# Pulmonary function, diffusing capacity, and forced oscillometry after recovery from COVID-19 in young, healthy, recreationally active men and women

## TL;DR

This study found that young, healthy adults who recovered from mild COVID-19 have normal lung function and mechanics, with only minor differences in certain breathing tests.

## Contribution

The study provides new evidence that mild COVID-19 does not significantly impair lung function in young, active individuals.

## Key findings

- Pulmonary function and diffusing capacity are largely preserved after mild COVID-19 recovery.
- Lung mechanics via oscillometry are normal in young, healthy individuals post-COVID-19.
- Only minor, statistically significant differences were observed in FEV1/FVC and FEF25-75% between groups.

## Abstract

•Spirometry is preserved after recovery from COVID-19 virus in young, healthy adults.•Lung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide is normal after recovery from COVID-19.•Lung mechanics via oscillometry are normal after recovery from COVID-19.

Spirometry is preserved after recovery from COVID-19 virus in young, healthy adults.

Lung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide is normal after recovery from COVID-19.

Lung mechanics via oscillometry are normal after recovery from COVID-19.

This study aimed to examine the long-term impact of COVID-19 on pulmonary function (spirometry and forced oscillometry technique, and lung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide [DLCO]) in a large group of young, recreationally active adults.

A total of 71 participants (aged 21 years) who had recovered from a positive COVID-19 infection (COVID+) and 55 participants (aged 24 years) who had never tested positive for COVID-19 (COVID−) performed routine spirometry and DLCO. Some patients also completed forced oscillometry technique (n = 22 COVID+; n = 18 COVID−).

The ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) and forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of FVC (FEF25-75%) were slightly but significantly lower in patients who were COVID+ than those who were COVID− (FEV1/FVC = 93.6 ± 8.3 vs 96.9 ± 6.7%-predicted, P = 0.019; FEF25-75% = 86.0 ± 21.2 vs 94.5 ± 21.1%-predicted, P = 0.015, respectively). There were no associations between any pulmonary function variables or DLCO and the number of days between COVID-19 infection and testing.

Our findings provide evidence that pulmonary function and DLCO are largely preserved after recovery from mild COVID-19 in young, healthy, active men and women.