Diaphragm dysfunction in severe COVID‐19 as determined by neuromuscular ultrasound. Issue 8 (11th July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Farr, Ellen; Wolfe, Alexis R.; Deshmukh, Swati; Rydberg, Leslie; Soriano, Rachna; Walter, James M.; Boon, Andrea J.; Wolfe, Lisa F.; Franz, Colin K.
• Is Part Of: Annals of clinical and translational neurology. Volume 8:Issue 8(2021)
• Page Start: 1745
• Page End: 1749
• Publication Date: 2021-07-11
• Subjects: Nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; 616.8005
• DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51416
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2328-9503

Abstract

Abstract: Many survivors from severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) suffer from persistent dyspnea and fatigue long after resolution of the active infection. In a cohort of 21 consecutive severe post‐COVID‐19 survivors admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation hospital, 16 (76%) of them had at least one sonographic abnormality of diaphragm muscle structure or function. This corresponded to a significant reduction in diaphragm muscle contractility as represented by thickening ratio (muscle thickness at maximal inspiration/end‐expiration) for the post‐COVID‐19 compared to non‐COVID‐19 cohorts. These findings may shed new light on neuromuscular respiratory dysfunction as a contributor to prolonged functional impairments after hospitalization for post‐COVID‐19.