Spirometry in Children at Six Months After SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Single-Center Study.

Objective: To study the spirometry parameters of children six months after severe acute coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.

Methods: This single center descriptive study enrolled children aged 7-18 years after 6 months of SARS-CoV-2 infection. A detailed interval history and clinical examination was recorded. Spirometry was performed and best of the three attempts was taken into consideration to measure forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume 1 second (FEV1).

Results: A convenience sample of 40 (21 boys) children was enrolled, median (IQR) age 13 (10.75, 17) years. Twelve (30%) children had abnormal spirometry with low FVC (<80%); 10/12 (83.3%) had FEV1<80%. Children who were underweight had higher odds of having abnormal spirometry [OR (95% CI) 5.13 (1.19, 22.11); P=0.028]. There was no significant association of abnormal spirometry with age, sex, severity of initial infection and oxygen requirement during the initial infection (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Abnormal spirometry results were observed in one-third children post-SARS-CoV-2 infection at six months follow-up.