Respiratory muscle dysfunction in long-COVID patients

• DOI: 10.1007/s15010-022-01840-9
• Publication Date: 2022-05-16T03:24:11Z
• Authors: Jan K. Hennigs; Marie Huwe; Annette Hennigs; Tim Oqueka; Marcel Simon; Lars Harbaum; Jakob Körbelin; Stefan Schmiedel; Julian Schulze zu...; Marylyn M. Addo; Stefan Kluge; Hans Klose
• Keywords: Exercise intolerance

Symptoms often persistent for more than 4 weeks after COVID-19-now commonly referred to as 'Long COVID'. Independent of initial disease severity or pathological pulmonary functions tests, fatigue, exertional intolerance and dyspnea are among the most common COVID-19 sequelae. We hypothesized that respiratory muscle dysfunction might be prevalent in persistently symptomatic patients with self-reported exercise intolerance.In a small cross-sectional pilot study (n = 67) mild-to-moderate (nonhospitalized) moderate-to-critical convalescent (formerly hospitalized) presenting our outpatient clinic approx. 5 months acute infection, we measured neuroventilatory activity P0.1, inspiratory strength (PImax) total strain (P0.1/PImax) addition standard capillary blood gas analysis, 6 min walking tests functional questionnaires.Pathological P0.1/PImax was found 88% patients. Mean PImax reduced hospitalized patients, but also 65% nonhospitalized P0.1 pathologically increased both groups. Increased associated exercise-induced deoxygenation, impaired tolerance, decreased productivity worse Post-COVID-19 status scale. Pathological changes were not pre-existing conditions.Our findings point towards novel aspect Thus, strongly advocate systematic testing during diagnostic workup symptomatic,