COVID‐19 in lung transplant recipients: an overview of the Swedish national experience. (14th November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Magnusson, Jesper M.; Larsson, Hillevi; Alsaleh, Ahmed; Ekelund, Jan; Karason, Kristjan; Schult, Andreas; Friman, Vanda; Felldin, Marie; Søfteland, John Mackay; Dellgren, Göran; Oltean, Mihai
• Is Part Of: Transplant international. Volume 34:Number 12(2021)
• Page Start: 2597
• Page End: 2608
• Publication Date: 2021-11-14
• Subjects: COVID‐19 -- lung function -- lung transplantation -- multicentre study -- severity -- survival; Transplantation of organs, tissues, etc -- Periodicals; 617.95405
• DOI: 10.1111/tri.14148
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0934-0874

Abstract

Summary: Although it is known that solid organ transplant recipients fare worse after COVID‐19 infection, data on the impact of COVID‐19 on clinical outcomes and allograft function in lung transplant (LTx) recipients are limited and based mainly on reports with short follow‐up. In this nationwide study, all LTx recipients with COVID‐19 diagnosed from 1 February 2020 to 30 April 2021 were included. The patients were followed until 1 August 2021 or death. We analysed demographics, clinical features, therapeutic management and outcomes, including lung function. Forty‐seven patients were identified: median age was 59 (10–78) years, 53.1% were male, and median follow‐up was 194 (23–509) days. COVID‐19 was asymptomatic or mild at presentation in 48.9%. Nine patients (19.1%) were vaccinated pre‐COVID infection. Two patients (4.3%) died within 28 days of testing positive, and the overall survival rate was 85.1%. The patients with asymptomatic or mild symptoms had a higher median % expected forced expiratory volume during the first second than the patients with worse symptoms ( P = 0.004). LTx recipients develop the entire spectrum of COVID‐19, and in addition to previously acknowledged risk factors, lower pre‐COVID lung function was associated with more severe disease presentation. Abstract : Although Sweden had a controversial approach to the COVID pandemic, this retrospective study of lung transplant recipients indicates a good general survival in this vulnerable group of patients.