EP513 - PULMONARY FUNCTION AND LONG-TERM COMPLAINTS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS AFTER COVID-19 (ID 1197)
Abstract
Backgrounds:
Persistent respiratory symptoms after COVID-19 in adults are frequent and pulmonary function can show long-term impairment. Only preliminary evidence is available on persistent respiratory sequelae in children. Our objective was to examine the long-term effects of both symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection on pulmonary function in a single-center, controlled, prospective study.
Methods
Participants with serological or PCR-based evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection were recruited from a population-based study on seroconversion rates. Multiple-breath washout, bodyplethysmography, and diffusion capacity testing were performed. Subjects were interviewed about symptoms during acute phase of infection and long-lasting complaints. Cases were compared to SARS-CoV-2 seronegative controls from the same population-based study with and without history of previous respiratory infection within six months prior to assessment.
Results:
73 seropositive children and adolescents (5–18 years) were recruited after an average of 2.6 months (range 0.4–6.0) after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Four (5.5%) had to be hospitalized during acute infection. Of the 19 patients (27.1%) who complained about persistent or newly emerged symptoms since SARS-CoV-2, eight (11.4%) reported respiratory symptoms. Comparing patients to 45 seronegative controls (14 (31,1%) with a history of previous other infection), no significant differences were detected in frequency of abnormal pulmonary function (SARS-CoV-2: 12, 16.4%; controls: 12, 27.7%; OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.22–1.34). Two patients with persistent respiratory symptoms showed abnormal pulmonary function. Multivariate analysis revealed reduced FVC (p=0.045) in patients with severe infection regardless of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Conclusions/Learning Points:
Pulmonary function including diffusion capacity and multiple-breath washout is rarely impaired in children and adolescents after SARS-CoV-2 infection, except of those with severe infection and did not differ between COVID-19 and other previous infections. The discrepancy between persistent respiratory symptoms and normal pulmonary function suggests a different underlying pathology like dysfunctional breathing.
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