Evaluation of long-term pulmonary functions after COVID-19 infection in children: a longitudinal observational cohort study

Introduction: We aimed to present the changes that may occur in pulmonary functions in children who experienced more severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during long-term follow-up. Methodology: A prospective longitudinal observational cohort study was conducted with 34 pediatric patients (...

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Main Authors: Muhammet F Korkmaz, Gülsüm E Şenkan, Şefika Elmas Bozdemir, Merve Korkmaz, İbrahim Koç, Behiye Oral
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/20123
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author Muhammet F Korkmaz
Gülsüm E Şenkan
Şefika Elmas Bozdemir
Merve Korkmaz
İbrahim Koç
Behiye Oral
author_facet Muhammet F Korkmaz
Gülsüm E Şenkan
Şefika Elmas Bozdemir
Merve Korkmaz
İbrahim Koç
Behiye Oral
author_sort Muhammet F Korkmaz
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: We aimed to present the changes that may occur in pulmonary functions in children who experienced more severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during long-term follow-up. Methodology: A prospective longitudinal observational cohort study was conducted with 34 pediatric patients (7–18 years) who were hospitalized with COVID-19 infection (moderate n = 25, severe n = 9), and followed up at our Pediatric Infection Outpatient Clinic for approximately two years. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were performed using spirometry. Results: Data from the hospitalization period revealed no significant differences between the severity groups in terms of demographic, clinical, laboratory, radiological, treatment, and outcome (p > 0.05). The median time interval between COVID-19 infection and PFTs was 15 months (range 11–29 months), and there was no significant difference between severity groups (p = 0.878). Eight patients (24%) had abnormal pulmonary functions; among them, seven had an obstructive pattern (21%) and one had a restrictive pattern (3%). The severity groups had no statistical difference in pulmonary functions (p = 0.105). While forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) %, FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC)%, and forced expiratory flow during the middle half of FVC (FEF25–75%) ratios were lower in the severe patient group, Z-scores were similar. Among the patients continuing polyclinic follow-up, 41% had persistent respiratory symptoms before PFTs. No differences were observed in PFTs when compared based on the presence of symptoms (p > 0.05). Conclusions: We observed no significant long-term differences in pulmonary function between moderate and severe COVID-19 cases in children.
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spelling doaj-art-97f54febb2614c45bb8db0c7f2ad6a4f2025-08-20T02:16:06ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802024-12-011812.110.3855/jidc.20123Evaluation of long-term pulmonary functions after COVID-19 infection in children: a longitudinal observational cohort studyMuhammet F Korkmaz0Gülsüm E Şenkan1Şefika Elmas Bozdemir2Merve Korkmaz3İbrahim Koç4Behiye Oral5Department of Pediatrics, University of Health Sciences, Bursa Faculty of Medicine, City Training and Research Hospital, Bursa, TurkeyDepartment of Pediatrics, University of Health Sciences, Bursa Faculty of Medicine, City Training and Research Hospital, Bursa, TurkeyDepartment of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Health Sciences, Bursa Faculty of Medicine, City Training and Research Hospital, Bursa, TurkeyDepartment of Pediatric Pulmonology, Uludağ University, Faculty of Medicine, Bursa, TurkeyDepartment of Pulmonology, University of Health Sciences, Bursa Faculty of Medicine, City Training and Research Hospital, Bursa, TurkeyDepartment of Radiology, University of Health Sciences, Bursa Faculty of Medicine, City Training and Research Hospital, Bursa, Turkey Introduction: We aimed to present the changes that may occur in pulmonary functions in children who experienced more severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during long-term follow-up. Methodology: A prospective longitudinal observational cohort study was conducted with 34 pediatric patients (7–18 years) who were hospitalized with COVID-19 infection (moderate n = 25, severe n = 9), and followed up at our Pediatric Infection Outpatient Clinic for approximately two years. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were performed using spirometry. Results: Data from the hospitalization period revealed no significant differences between the severity groups in terms of demographic, clinical, laboratory, radiological, treatment, and outcome (p > 0.05). The median time interval between COVID-19 infection and PFTs was 15 months (range 11–29 months), and there was no significant difference between severity groups (p = 0.878). Eight patients (24%) had abnormal pulmonary functions; among them, seven had an obstructive pattern (21%) and one had a restrictive pattern (3%). The severity groups had no statistical difference in pulmonary functions (p = 0.105). While forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) %, FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC)%, and forced expiratory flow during the middle half of FVC (FEF25–75%) ratios were lower in the severe patient group, Z-scores were similar. Among the patients continuing polyclinic follow-up, 41% had persistent respiratory symptoms before PFTs. No differences were observed in PFTs when compared based on the presence of symptoms (p > 0.05). Conclusions: We observed no significant long-term differences in pulmonary function between moderate and severe COVID-19 cases in children. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/20123COVID-19long-COVIDchildrenpulmonary functionspirometry
spellingShingle Muhammet F Korkmaz
Gülsüm E Şenkan
Şefika Elmas Bozdemir
Merve Korkmaz
İbrahim Koç
Behiye Oral
Evaluation of long-term pulmonary functions after COVID-19 infection in children: a longitudinal observational cohort study
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
COVID-19
long-COVID
children
pulmonary function
spirometry
title Evaluation of long-term pulmonary functions after COVID-19 infection in children: a longitudinal observational cohort study
title_full Evaluation of long-term pulmonary functions after COVID-19 infection in children: a longitudinal observational cohort study
title_fullStr Evaluation of long-term pulmonary functions after COVID-19 infection in children: a longitudinal observational cohort study
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of long-term pulmonary functions after COVID-19 infection in children: a longitudinal observational cohort study
title_short Evaluation of long-term pulmonary functions after COVID-19 infection in children: a longitudinal observational cohort study
title_sort evaluation of long term pulmonary functions after covid 19 infection in children a longitudinal observational cohort study
topic COVID-19
long-COVID
children
pulmonary function
spirometry
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/20123
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