@article{Saiphoklang_Ruchiwit_Kanitsap_Tantiyavarong_Vatcharavongvan_Paluangrit_Leelasittikul_Pugongchai_Poachanukoon_2022, title={Pulmonary Function Among COVID-19 Patients in Home Isolation Program}, volume={22}, url={https://asianmedjam.com/index.php/amjam/article/view/1301}, abstractNote={<p><strong>Introduction:</strong> Patients with mild coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) are usually treated in an outpatient setting. Pulmonary functions in this setting have not been observed. This study aimed to determine abnormal lung functions in COVID-19 patients under a home isolation program.</p>
<p><strong>Methods:</strong> A prospective study was conducted in COVID-19 patients with asymptomatic or mild disease at Thammasat-Khukot Medical Center and Thammasat University Hospital, Thailand, between November 2021 and May 2022. Demographics, smoking, symptoms, <br />pulmonary functions including forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV<sub>1</sub>), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory flow at 25 - 75% of FVC (FEF<sub>25-75</sub>), and bronchodilator test were collected. Spirometry was performed after disease resolution at baseline and 3-month follow-up. Abnormal lung functions were defined as restrictive lung pattern (FVC< 80%), airway obstruction (FEV<sub>1</sub>/FVC < 70%), small airway disease (FEF<sub>25-75</sub> < 65%), or bronchodilator response (increase in FEV<sub>1</sub> or FVC ≥ 12% and 200 mL).</p>
<p><strong>Results:</strong> A total of 199 patients (56% female) were included. Mean age was 39.8 ± 15.4 years. Smoking history was 22% (6.8 ± 9.1 pack-years). Asymptomatic patients were 8.5%. Common symptoms were fever (53.5%), cough (55.0%), and dyspnea (30.5%). Abnormal lung functions were restrictive lung pattern in 15.5%, airway obstruction in 3.5%, small airway disease in 20.0%, and bronchodilator response in 3.0%. There was significant decrease in FEV<sub>1</sub> (40 mL), FEV<sub>1</sub>/FVC (0.93%), and FEF<sub>25-75</sub> (6.7%) between baseline and 3-month follow-up. Linear regression analysis showed that age, sex, body weight, height, smoking history, and previous respiratory diseases were not associated with lung function decline.</p>
<p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Abnormal pulmonary functions, especially, small airway disease, were common among COVID-19 patients under a home isolation program. There was significant reduction in FEV<sub>1</sub>, FEV<sub>1</sub>/FVC, and FEF<sub>25-75</sub>, regardless of age,sex, weight, height,smoking, and previous respiratory diseases. These findings indicate that mild COVID-19 patients might develop airway obstruction in the future.</p>}, number={-}, journal={Asian Medical Journal and Alternative Medicine}, author={Saiphoklang, Narongkorn and Ruchiwit, Pitchayapa and Kanitsap, Apichart and Tantiyavarong, Pichaya and Vatcharavongvan, Pasitpon and Paluangrit, Srimuang and Leelasittikul, Kanyada and Pugongchai, Apiwat and Poachanukoon, Orapan}, year={2022}, month={Aug.}, pages={S98} }