Study Reveals Long-Term Lung Damage in Covid-19 Survivors

A recent study indicates that individuals who have recovered from severe Covid-19 infections may experience lasting damage to lung function. Conducted by researchers at the Christian Medical College, Vellore, the study examined 207 individuals to assess the impact of Covid-19 on lung function. Findings revealed significant impairment in lung function, exercise capacity, and quality of life among recovered individuals.

According to the study, half of the participants reported experiencing shortness of breath, possibly attributable to various factors including underlying health conditions and environmental pollution. Lead researcher D J Christopher, a professor of pulmonary medicine at CMC Vellore, emphasized the disproportionate impact on the Indian population compared to data from other countries, regardless of disease severity.

Published in the journal PLOS Global Public Health, the study compared findings from Europe and China. While previous studies in Italy and China reported lower rates of respiratory symptoms among recovered individuals, the CMC Vellore study found a higher prevalence of such symptoms among Indians.

The study also highlighted the presence of comorbidities among participants, with 72.5% reporting underlying health conditions like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and chronic lung diseases. Lung function tests revealed notable impairment, particularly in the diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO), indicating difficulties in gas exchange within the lungs.

Importantly, the study suggests that Indian subjects exhibited worse impairment in lung function compared to predominantly Caucasian cohorts in other published studies. The authors concluded that post-Covid-19 lung damage significantly impacts lung function, quality of life, and effort tolerance, underscoring the need for continued monitoring and support for recovered individuals.

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