Open AccessDiaphragm dysfunction in severe COVID‐19 as determined by neuromuscular ultrasound
Author(s) -
Farr Ellen,
Wolfe Alexis R.,
Deshmukh Swati,
Rydberg Leslie,
Soriano Rachna,
Walter James M.,
Boon Andrea J.,
Wolfe Lisa F.,
Franz Colin K.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
annals of clinical and translational neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.824
H-Index - 42
ISSN - 2328-9503
DOI - 10.1002/acn3.51416
Subject(s) - medicine , covid-19 , diaphragm (acoustics) , contractility , cohort , respiratory system , cardiology , disease , pathology , physics , outbreak , acoustics , infectious disease (medical specialty) , loudspeaker
Many survivors from severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) suffer from persistent dyspnea and fatigue long after resolution of the active infection. In a cohort of 21 consecutive severe post‐COVID‐19 survivors admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation hospital, 16 (76%) of them had at least one sonographic abnormality of diaphragm muscle structure or function. This corresponded to a significant reduction in diaphragm muscle contractility as represented by thickening ratio (muscle thickness at maximal inspiration/end‐expiration) for the post‐COVID‐19 compared to non‐COVID‐19 cohorts. These findings may shed new light on neuromuscular respiratory dysfunction as a contributor to prolonged functional impairments after hospitalization for post‐COVID‐19.