Prolonged recovery from acute coronavirus disease 2019 (long COVID) is characterized in about 30% of subjects from breathlessness and fatigue also during daily activities often associated to decreased lung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) at rest. Aim of investigators was to study whether abnormalities of lung diffusing capacity for nitric oxide (DLNO) and DLCO in long COVID may have a clinical impact in relation to exercise intolerance. Combined DLNO and DLCO were simultaneously measured at rest and immediately after a short bout of treadmill walking in 32 dyspneic subjects ≥3 months after the COVID-19 acute phase. A group of healthy subjects served as a control group.
Aim of investigators was to study whether abnormalities of lung diffusing capacity for nitric oxide (DLNO) and carbon monoxide (DLCO) in long COVID may have a clinical impact in relation to exercise intolerance.