Key result
Previous COVID-19 infection in young, healthy adults was associated with slightly lower FEV1/FVC (93.6% vs 96.9% predicted) and FEF25-75%, though overall pulmonary function remained largely preserved.
Why the study?
The long-term impact of COVID-19 on pulmonary function, forced oscillometry technique, and lung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide in young, recreationally active adults was not established.
Does prior COVID-19 infection impair pulmonary function in young, healthy, recreationally active adults?
Cross-Sectional (n=126)
Yes
Does prior COVID-19 infection impair pulmonary function in young, healthy, recreationally active adults?
Absolute Event Rate: 93.6% vs 96.9%
p-value: p=0.019
Pulmonary function and DLCO are largely preserved after recovery from mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in young, healthy, active adults, with only minor reductions in some spirometric measures.
Minor spirometric differences after COVID-19 warrant no practice change in young active adults; leaves open need for longitudinal studies on functional sequelae.
Purpose Examine the long-term impact of COVID-19 on pulmonary function (spirometry and forced oscillometry technique (FOT), and lung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DL CO ) in a large group of young, recreationally active adults. Methods 71 participants (21 years) who had recovered from a positive COVID-19 infection (COVID + ) and 55 participants (24 years) who had never tested positive for COVID-19 (COVID - ) performed routine spirometry and DL CO . Some subjects also completed FOT ( n =22 COVID + ; n =18 COVID - ). Results The ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity (FEV 1 /FVC) and forced expiratory flow between 25-75% of FVC (FEF 25-75% ) were slightly, but significantly, lower in COVID + than COVID - subjects (FEV 1 /FVC = 93.6 ± 8.3 vs . 96.9 ± 6.7%-predicted, P =0.019; FEF 25-75% = 86.0 ± 21.2 vs . 94.5 ± 21.1%-predicted, P =0.015, respectively). There were no associations between any pulmonary function variables or DL CO and the number of days between COVID-19 infection and testing. Conclusion Our findings provide evidence that pulmonary function and DL CO are largely preserved after recovery from mild COVID-19 in young, healthy, active men and women.
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Bryant‐Ekstrand et al. (2025) conducted a cross-sectional in Post-COVID-19 recovery (n=126). COVID-19 infection vs. Never tested positive for COVID-19 was evaluated on FEV1/FVC (% predicted) (p=0.019). Previous COVID-19 infection in young, healthy adults was associated with slightly lower FEV1/FVC (93.6% vs 96.9% predicted) and FEF25-75%, though overall pulmonary function remained largely preserved.
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