Abstract
Introduction: The clinical spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 infection is
well-established. However, understanding its long-term implications,
especially in infants, remains limited. We aimed to evaluate pulmonary
function tests in infants (iPFT) several months after a documented
SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: An observational case-control
study was performed. iPFT results in infants with persistent respiratory
complaints several months after a SARS-CoV-2 infection were compared to
a registry of patients assessed at our center between 2008 and 2019
using the Mann–Whitney U and Fisher’s exact tests. Excluded from the
study were infants with chronic diseases and extreme prematurity.
Results: iPFT data from sixteen infants with respiratory
complaints and a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection and 475 controls were
evaluated in the study. The median time between the SARS-CoV-2 infection
and iPFT evaluation was 5.5 months (IQR=2.8-8.0). There were no
differences between cases and controls in clinical characteristics and
reason for iPFT evaluation. iPFT results showed no significant
differences between cases and controls in lung volumes, compliance, or
resistance. Expiratory airflow limitation was observed in both groups,
with better low lung volume flows in the SARS-CoV-2 group.
Categorization according to iPFT physiologic alteration and
bronchodilator responsiveness were similar in the two groups.
Conclusion: This study provides the first comprehensive iPFT
data in infants following a SARS-CoV-2 infection. The findings suggest
that SARS-CoV-2 infection does not cause unique long-term effects on
pulmonary function in infants with chronic respiratory symptoms. Further
studies in larger cohorts, particularly in infants with severe acute
SARS-CoV-2 infection, are warranted to validate these findings.