Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 has affected millions globally with epidemiological trends revealing two waves, 1st wave (July-December 2020) and 2nd wave (April-June 2021) in India. Common residual symptoms are dyspnoea, fatigue & joint pain. Aim & objective: To assess post Covid -19 PFT at 4th week and at 8th week follow up during 1st and 2nd wave. Material and Methods: All post Covid-19 patients (RT-PCR confirmed) were evaluated clinically and by PFT. Results: 50 patients were enrolled from 1st wave and 39 from 2nd wave. Dyspnoea, joint pain, and fatigue were the most frequently observed symptoms. Among 1st wave group spirometry was normal in 23(46%) patients and restrictive pattern in 27(54%) patients on 1st visit. At 8th week follow up, spirometry was normal in 39(78%) patients while restrictive pattern in 11(22%) patients. Among 2nd wave group, spirometry was normal in 19(48.7%) patients and restrictive pattern in 20(51.8%) at 1st visit. At 8th week spirometry was normal in 27(69.3%) patients and restrictive pattern in 12(30.7%) patients. 29 patients from 1st wave performed DLCO, out of which 4(13.7%) showed normal DLCO while 25(86.1%) had reduced DLCO on 1st visit. At 8th week follow up DLCO was normal in 19(65.5%) and reduced in 10(34.4%) patients. Among 2nd wave group, 21 performed DLCO, out of which DLCO was normal in 5(23.8%) and reduced in 16(76.1%) 1st visit. After 8th week follow up DLCO was normal in 14(66.6%) and reduced in 7(33.3%). Conclusion: We did not find much difference in the behaviour of clinical presentation in 1st and 2nd wave patients upon follow up. There was relatively lesser recovery in 2nd wave patients in terms of spirometry and DLCO.