Do Covid-19 patients needing ICU admission have worse 6 months follow up
outcomes when compared with hospitalized non-ICU patients? A prospective
cohort study
Abstract
Objectives Long-term outcomes of COVID-19 patients who discharge ICU are
unclear. We investigated the effect of COVID-19 on lung structure,
pulmonary functional, exercise capacity and quality of life in patients
discharge from ICU and medical ward. Methods A prospective single-centre
study conducted in PCR confirmed COVID-19 patients who has been
discharged from University of Health Sciences, Dr. Suat Seren Chest
Disease and Thoracic Surgery Teaching and Research Hospital between 15
January and 5 March 2021. Patients who followed up for more than 48
hours in ICU and more than 72 hours in medical ward were included the
study. Computed tomography scores, pulmonary functional tests (PFT),
6-min walking distance and health related quality of life by SF-36 were
compared between ICU and medical ward patients at 6 months after
discharge. Results Seventy patients were included final analyses and 31
of them discharged from ICU. ICU patients had higher CT scores than
non-ICU patients at admission (17 vs 11) and follow up visit (6 vs 0).
Two-three of ICU patients had at least one abnormal finding at control
CT. Advanced age (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.02-1.15) and higher CT score at
admission (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.01-1.27) were risk factors for having
radiological abnormalities at control CT. 90% of the patients
discharged from the ICU had at least one persistent symptom. Conclusion
A number of COVID-19 survivors could not fully recover after 6 months of
hospital discharge. COVID-19 survivor needs to support therapies at
recovery phase of the disease.