Long COVID and Post-exertional Pulmonary Diffusion

N/ACompletedNCT05430503

IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino - IST Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genoa, Italy32 enrolled

Overview

Aim of investigators was to study whether abnormalities of lung diffusing capacity for nitric oxide (DLNO) and carbon monoxide (DLCO) in long COVID may have a clinical impact in relation to exercise intolerance.

Prolonged recovery from acute coronavirus disease 2019 (long COVID) is characterized in about 30% of subjects from breathlessness and fatigue also during daily activities often associated to decreased lung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) at rest. Aim of investigators was to study whether abnormalities of lung diffusing capacity for nitric oxide (DLNO) and DLCO in long COVID may have a clinical impact in relation to exercise intolerance. Combined DLNO and DLCO were simultaneously measured at rest and immediately after a short bout of treadmill walking in 32 dyspneic subjects ≥3 months after the COVID-19 acute phase. A group of healthy subjects served as a control group.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Conditions

Long COVID Breathlessness Exercise Intolerance Alveolar Lung Disease Pulmonary Gas Exchange

Interventions

Lung volumes, spirometry and standard single-breath DLCO were measured at rest while combined DLNO and DLCO were measured at rest and post-exerciseDIAGNOSTIC_TEST

DLNO and DLCO were measured at rest and 5-10 s after a bout of treadmill exercise simulating usual walking

Eligibility

Sex: ALLHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * History of dyspnea, fatigue, and exercise intolerance persisting or occurring at least 3 months after the COVID-19 acute phase and lasting ≥2 months. Exclusion Criteria: * History of diseases potentially causing dyspnea or affecting pulmonary gas transport, i.e., bronchial asthma, lung bullous disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary interstitial fibrosis or vasculitis, hematological diseases, systemic collagen diseases, congestive heart failure, liver or renal diseases, and morbid obesity.

Locations (1)

Ospedale Policlinico San Martino IRCCS - S.S. Fisiopatologia Respiratoria

Genoa, Italy

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Combined DLNO and DLCO changes after mild exercise

pulmonary gas exchange abnormalities in dyspneic long COVID subjects

Time frame: through study completion, an average of 6 months

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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