"Long Haulers".

Post-COVID conditions continue to afflict patients long after acute severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS CoV-2) infection. Over 50 symptoms across multiple organ systems have been reported, with pulmonary, cardiovascular, and neuropsychiatric sequelae occurring most frequently. Multiple terms have been used to describe post-COVID conditions including long COVID, long-haul COVID, postacute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection, long-term effects of COVID, and chronic COVID-19; however, standardized assessments and treatment algorithms for patients have generally been lacking. This review discusses the epidemiology and risk factors for post-COVID conditions and provides a general overview of the diagnostic assessment and treatment of specific manifestations. Data derived from the multitude of observational studies and scientific investigations into pathogenesis are providing a clearer understanding of the distinct phenotypes of post-COVID conditions. Insight gained from these studies and ongoing interventional trials continues to lead to the development of clinical protocols directed toward improving COVID-19 survivors' quality of life and preventing or reducing long-term morbidity.

Proteomic profiling demonstrates inflammatory and endotheliopathy signatures associated with impaired cardiopulmonary exercise hemodynamic profile in Post Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) syndrome.

Approximately 50% of patients who recover from the acute SARS-CoV-2 experience Post Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) syndrome. The pathophysiological hallmark of PASC is characterized by impaired system oxygen extraction (EO2) on invasive cardiopulmonary exercise test (iCPET). However, the mechanistic insights into impaired EO2 remain unclear. We studied 21 consecutive iCPET in PASC patients with unexplained exertional intolerance. PASC patients were dichotomized into mildly reduced (EO2peak-mild) and severely reduced (EO2peak-severe) EO2 groups according to the median peak EO2 value. Proteomic profiling was performed on mixed venous blood plasma obtained at peak exercise during iCPET. PASC patients as a group exhibited depressed peak exercise aerobic capacity (peak VO2; 85 ± 18 vs. 131 ± 45% predicted; p = 0.0002) with normal systemic oxygen delivery, DO2 (37 ± 9 vs. 42 ± 15 mL/kg/min; p = 0.43) and reduced EO2 (0.4 ± 0.1 vs. 0.8 ± 0.1; p < 0.0001). PASC patients with EO2peak-mild exhibited greater DO2 compared to those with EO2peak-severe [42.9 (34.2-41.2) vs. 32.1 (26.8-38.0) mL/kg/min; p = 0.01]. The proteins with increased expression in the EO2peak-severe group were involved in inflammatory and fibrotic processes. In the EO2peak-mild group, proteins associated with oxidative phosphorylation and glycogen metabolism were elevated. In PASC patients with impaired EO2, there exist a spectrum of PASC phenotype related to differential aberrant protein expression and cardio-pulmonary physiologic response. PASC patients with EO2peak-severe exhibit a maladaptive physiologic and proteomic signature consistent with persistent inflammatory state and endothelial dysfunction, while in the EO2peak-mild group, there is enhanced expression of proteins involved in oxidative phosphorylation-mediated ATP synthesis along with an enhanced cardiopulmonary physiological response.

Differences in Mortality Among Patients With Asthma and COPD Hospitalized With COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: It remains unclear whether patients with asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at increased risk for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). OBJECTIVE: Compare in-hospital COVID-19 outcomes among patients with asthma, COPD, and no airway disease. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 8,395 patients admitted with COVID-19 between March 2020 and April 2021. Airway disease diagnoses were defined using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes. Mortality and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores were compared among groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify and adjust for confounding clinical features associated with mortality. RESULTS: The median SOFA score in patients without airway disease was 0.32 and mortality was 11%. In comparison, asthma patients had lower SOFA scores (median 0.15; P < .01) and decreased mortality, even after adjusting for age, diabetes, and other confounders (odds ratio 0.65; P = .01). Patients with COPD had higher SOFA scores (median 0.86; P < .01) and increased adjusted odds of mortality (odds ratio 1.40; P < .01). Blood eosinophil count of 200 cells/µL or greater, a marker of type 2 inflammation, was associated with lower mortality across all groups. Importantly, patients with asthma showed improved outcomes even after adjusting for eosinophilia, indicating that noneosinophilic asthma was associated with protection as well. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 severity was increased in patients with COPD and decreased in those with asthma, eosinophilia, and noneosinophilic asthma, independent of clinical confounders. These findings suggest that COVID-19 severity may be influenced by intrinsic immunological factors in patients with airway diseases, such as type 2 inflammation.

Persistent Exertional Intolerance After COVID-19: Insights From Invasive Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing.

BACKGROUND: Some patients with COVID-19 who have recovered from the acute infection after experiencing only mild symptoms continue to exhibit persistent exertional limitation that often is unexplained by conventional investigative studies. RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the pathophysiologic mechanism of exercise intolerance that underlies the post-COVID-19 long-haul syndrome in patients without cardiopulmonary disease? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This study examined the systemic and pulmonary hemodynamics, ventilation, and gas exchange in 10 patients who recovered from COVID-19 and were without cardiopulmonary disease during invasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing (iCPET) and compared the results with those from 10 age- and sex-matched control participants. These data then were used to define potential reasons for exertional limitation in the cohort of patients who had recovered from COVID-19. RESULTS: The patients who had recovered from COVID-19 exhibited markedly reduced peak exercise aerobic capacity (oxygen consumption [VO2]) compared with control participants (70 ± 11% predicted vs 131 ± 45% predicted; P < .0001). This reduction in peak VO2 was associated with impaired systemic oxygen extraction (ie, narrow arterial-mixed venous oxygen content difference to arterial oxygen content ratio) compared with control participants (0.49 ± 0.1 vs 0.78 ± 0.1; P < .0001), despite a preserved peak cardiac index (7.8 ± 3.1 L/min vs 8.4±2.3 L/min; P > .05). Additionally, patients who had recovered from COVID-19 demonstrated greater ventilatory inefficiency (ie, abnormal ventilatory efficiency [VE/VCO2] slope: 35 ± 5 vs 27 ± 5; P = .01) compared with control participants without an increase in dead space ventilation. INTERPRETATION: Patients who have recovered from COVID-19 without cardiopulmonary disease demonstrate a marked reduction in peak VO2 from a peripheral rather than a central cardiac limit, along with an exaggerated hyperventilatory response during exercise.

Case Report: Bullous Lung Disease Following COVID-19.

More than 87% of patients report the persistence of at least one symptom after recovery from the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Dyspnea is one of the most frequently reported symptoms following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS CoV-2) infection with persistent chest radiological abnormalities up to 3 months after symptom onset. These radiological abnormalities are variable and most commonly include ground-glass opacities, reticulations, mosaic attenuation, parenchymal bands, interlobular septal thickening, bronchiectasis, and fibrotic-like changes. However, in this case report, we describe findings of bullous lung disease as a complication of SARS CoV-2 infection. As the pandemic continues, there is a need to understand the multiple respiratory manifestations of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19. We, therefore, present this case to add to the current body of literature describing pulmonary disease as a consequence of SARS CoV-2 infection.

A Clinic Blueprint for Post-Coronavirus Disease 2019 RECOVERY: Learning From the Past, Looking to the Future.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic poses extraordinary challenges. The tremendous number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the United States has resulted in a large population of survivors with prolonged postinfection symptoms. The creation of multidisciplinary post-COVID-19 clinics to address both persistent symptoms and potential long-term complications requires an understanding of the acute disease and the emerging data regarding COVID-19 outcomes. Experience with severe acute respiratory syndrome and Middle East respiratory syndrome, post-acute respiratory distress syndrome complications, and post-intensive care syndrome also informs anticipated sequelae and clinical program design. Post-COVID-19 clinical programs should be prepared to care for individuals previously hospitalized with COVID-19 (including those who required critical care support), nonhospitalized individuals with persistent respiratory symptoms following COVID-19, and individuals with preexisting lung disease complicated by COVID-19. Effective multidisciplinary collaboration models leverage lessons learned during the early phases of the pandemic to overcome the unique logistical challenges posed by pandemic circumstances. Collaboration between physicians and researchers across disciplines will provide insight into survivorship that may shape the treatment of both acute disease and chronic complications. In this review, we discuss the aims, general principles, elements of design, and challenges of a successful multidisciplinary model to address the needs of COVID-19 survivors.

A 50-Year-Old Woman With Limited Scleroderma Presenting With Shortness of Breath.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 50-year-old woman with a medical history significant for limited scleroderma (SSc) complicated by interstitial lung disease (ILD) and pulmonary arterial hypertension presented to our institution with acute on chronic shortness of breath. Ten years before presentation, she was diagnosed with SSc. Two years before presentation, she was found to have ILD, for which she was started on mycophenolate mofetil and low-dose prednisone. One year before presentation, she noted worsening dyspnea on exertion (New York Heart Association Functional Class III) and required supplemental oxygen, up to 5 L, despite findings of stable ILD on a maintenance dose of mycophenolate mofetil. A subsequent right heart catheterization showed findings consistent with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension: right atrial pressure of 19 mm Hg, pulmonary arterial pressure of 98/39 mm Hg with a mean pulmonary arterial pressure of 58 mm Hg, right ventricular pressure of 59/6 mm Hg, pulmonary arterial wedge pressure of 10 mm Hg, cardiac output of 4.2 L/min with a cardiac index of 2.7 L/min/m2, and a calculated pulmonary vascular resistance of 11.43 Wood units. She had no significant vasoreactivity on inhaled nitric oxide challenge. She was started on IV treprostinil that had been up-titrated over the course of 6 months before presentation. On admission, she denied any cough, fevers, chills, chest pains, palpitations, or lower extremity edema. She denied any sick contacts or any recent travel. She denied any periods of prolonged immobility.