BMC Pulm Med. 2026 Jul 24;26(1):332. doi: 10.1186/s12890-026-04536-0.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the relationship between demographic characteristics, chest CT findings, and laboratory parameters during hospitalization and post-COVID pulmonary function and exercise capacity.
METHODS: The retrospective study included 101 patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19, had CT findings consistent with COVID-19, and completed at least two months after discharge. In the study, Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT), thorax CT and laboratory findings were evaluated. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS (v25.0); normality and variance homogeneity were assessed by Shapiro-Wilk and Levene tests, respectively, while group comparisons were performed using Student’s t, Mann-Whitney U, Chi-square, and one-way ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc tests, and correlations were evaluated by Spearman analysis.
RESULTS: Patients with severe/critical COVID-19 had significantly higher age, BMI, length of hospital stay, time from diagnosis to admission, ferritin, CRP, D-dimer, neutrophil %, N/L ratio, and Charlson Comorbidity Index, and lower lymphocyte % (p < 0.005). Severe/critical pneumonia was observed in 66.7% of CO-RADS 4 and 67.9% of CO-RADS 5 cases (p = 0.002). Restrictive respiratory patterns were found in 32.7% of the severe/critical group (p = 0.018). ICU patients had significantly shorter 6MWT distances, more frequent restrictive PFT results, and higher inflammatory markers at admission compared to non-ICU patients (p < 0.05). No significant correlation was found between disease severity and 6MWT distance.
CONCLUSION: Elevated inflammatory markers and ICU admission during hospitalization were associated with impaired pulmonary function and reduced exercise capacity in the early post-COVID period. In contrast, disease severity and CO-RADS classification were not predictive of functional outcomes. These findings highlight the role of inflammatory burden and critical illness as key predictors of post-COVID impairment.
PMID:42509548 | DOI:10.1186/s12890-026-04536-0
