Diagnostic Value of Blood Oxygen Saturation and Serum C-Reactive Protein Level in Predicting Lung Sequels in Coronavirus Disease 2019-Infected Patients: A 12-week Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND Evidence of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) respiratory sequels is restricted and predisposing factors are not well studied more than two years passing pandemic. This study followed COVID-19 patients 12 weeks after discharge from hospital for respiratory sequels. MATERIALS AND METHODS This was a prospective study on discharged COVID-19 patients in 2021, in Jahrom, Iran. Exposure was COVID-19 clinical features at hospitalization, including symptoms and physical examination and laboratory findings, and primary endpoint was 12-week lung sequel, being evaluated by a chest CT scan. Demographics and previous medical history were considered covariates. SPO2 and CRP 6-week changes were followed as an early tool for prediction of 12-week lung sequel. RESULTS Totally, 383 participants (17 had sequels) with mean age of 57.43±18.03 years old (50.13% male) completed 12-week study follow-ups. Ninety-one (23.8%) subjects had an ICU admission history. SPO2% in 6th week was statistically significantly associated with a higher rate of 12-week sequelae (P0.001). Also, patients having CT scan scores between 40% to 50% (P=0.012) and higher than 50% (P=0.040) had higher chance of experiencing lung sequelae than patients with CT scan score of below 40%, as well as having ICU admission history and lower SPO2% at 6th week of discharge. There was a statistically significant increasing trend of SPO2% (P0.001) and a statistically significant decreasing trend of CRP levels (P0.001), overall. SPO2% increase after 6 weeks was lower in participants with lung sequels than fully improved ones (P=0.002) and as well as total 12-week change in SPO2% (P=0.001). CRP changes in none of evaluated periods were different among study groups (P0.05). CONCLUSION Our results were in favor of closely following SPO2 levels after patient discharge, while CRP assessment seems not helpful based on our results.

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