Poor Correlation between Diaphragm Ultrasound and Invasive Gold Standard Technique Derived Respiratory Muscle Strength Assessment in Patients after Hospitalisation for COVID-19.

Introduction: Individuals who survive acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) might experience diaphragm muscle weakness. Diaphragm ultrasound may be an easy-to-obtain bedside tool for determining diaphragm function. However, twitch transdiaphragmatic pressure (twPdi) following magnetic stimulation (MS) of the phrenic nerves is the gold standard for non-volitional assessment of diaphragm strength.

Diaphragm Muscle Weakness Might Explain Exertional Dyspnea 15 Months after Hospitalization for COVID-19.

Dyspnea is often a persistent symptom after acute coronavirus disease (COVID-19), even if cardiac and pulmonary function are normal. This study investigated diaphragm muscle strength in patients after COVID-19 and its relationship to unexplained dyspnea on exertion. Fifty patients previously hospitalized with COVID-19 (14 female, age 58 ± 12 yr, half of whom were treated with mechanical ventilation, and half of whom were treated outside the ICU) were evaluated using pulmonary function testing, 6-minute-walk test, echocardiography, twitch transdiaphragmatic pressure after cervical magnetic stimulation of the phrenic nerve roots, and diaphragm ultrasound.

Diaphragm dysfunction as a potential determinant of dyspnea on exertion in patients 1 year after COVID-19-related ARDS.

Some COVID-19 patients experience dyspnea without objective impairment of pulmonary or cardiac function. This study determined diaphragm function and its central voluntary activation as a potential correlate with exertional dyspnea after COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in ten patients and matched controls. One year post discharge, both pulmonary function tests and echocardiography were normal.