Long-term outcomes of mild coronavirus disease 2019: Pulmonary function, exercise capacity, and quality of life

Objective To evaluate the long-term changes in pulmonary function, exercise capacity, mental health status, and health-related quality of life in individuals with mild coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) over a 12-month period and to assess the implications for post-COVID rehabilitation and healthcare strategies. Method This prospective, longitudinal cohort study included 33 patients diagnosed with mild COVID-19. The following pulmonary function tests were used to assess mild COVID-19: the 6-minute walk test, Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, and 36-Item Short-Form General Health Survey. Repeated measures analysis of variance and linear regression analyses were utilized to evaluate changes over time and identify factors associated with exercise capacity. Results Pulmonary function parameters showed significant improvement over 12 months ( p < 0.001). The 6-minute walk distance increased significantly from 401.7 ± 12.3 m at 3 months to 523.8 ± 10.4 m at 12 months ( p < 0.001); however, it remained below the normative values. Notably, the forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, and sex were identified as independent predictors of the 6-minute walk distance at 12 months ( p < 0.05). Conclusion Patients recovering from mild COVID-19 may experience persistent impairments in pulmonary function, exercise capacity, and mental health up to 1 year postdischarge. These findings underscore the importance of long-term rehabilitation and monitoring for mild COVID-19 patients who are often overlooked in post-COVID healthcare strategies.