A prospective cohort study has shown that individuals hospitalized with acute COVID-19 who had acute severe respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) had poorer exercise capacity, health-related quality of life, and overall health compared to the general population, after a median of 8 months following the diagnosis of COVID-19. 

The cohort included 113 COVID-19 survivors who had developed ARDS after admission prior to April 16, 2020. Around 81% of the cohort experienced at least one persistent symptom during follow-up; 45% reported shortness of breath, 50% had muscle pain, 43% reported memory impairment, and 46% had physical weakness of a score of at least 5 on a 10-point scale. A total of 104 participants completed a 6-minute walk test, which revealed that 30% had a reduction in oxygen saturation level of at least 4%, and 5% had an initial or final level less than 88%. Among 46 subjects who underwent a pulmonary function test, 15% were found to have a forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) of <70%. The findings were presented at the 31st European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases.

A Swiss study, which was also presented at the meeting, revealed that even mild COVID-19 cases can result in debilitating symptoms. Researchers noted that over half of those with a mild to moderate disease had persistent symptoms at least 3 months following the diagnosis of COVID-19… (Medscape)