Impulse oscillometry assessment of respiratory function in pediatric patients with a history of COVID-19.

Objective: While coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is generally considered to exhibit a less severe clinical course in children than in adults, studies have demonstrated that respiratory symptoms can endure for more than 3 months following infection in at least one-third of pediatric cases. The present study evaluates the respiratory functions of children aged 3-15 years within 3-6 months of their recovery from COVID-19 using impulse oscillometry (IOS) and compares them with the values of healthy children.

Methods: Included in this prospective cross-sectional study were 63 patients (patient group) aged 3-15 years who contracted COVID-19 between December 2021 and May 2022, as well as 57 healthy children as a control group, matched for age and sex. The demographic, clinical, and laboratory data of the patients were recorded, and respiratory function was assessed based on airway resistance (zR5, zR20, R5-20) and reactance (zX5, zX20, reactance area [AX], resonant frequency [Fres]) using an IOS device.

Results: There were no significant differences in the age, weight, height, and body weight z score values of the two groups (p > .05). While the zR5 and R5-20 levels of the patient group were higher (p = .008 and p < .001, respectively) than those of the controls, the zR20, AX, and Fres values did not differ significantly between the groups (p > .05). The parameters indicating the reactance, including zX5 and zX20, were significantly lower in the patient group than in the control group (p = .028 and p < .001, respectively).

Conclusion: Total and peripheral airway resistances were found to be elevated in children who had recovered from COVID-19 in the preceding 3-6 months.