%0 Journal Article %A Maria Natividad Núñez-Seisdedos %A David Valcárcel-Linares %A María Teresa Gómez-González %A Irene Lázaro-Navas %A Luís López-González %A Daniel Pecos-Martín %A Isabel Rodríguez-Costa %T Inspiratory muscle strength and function in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 survivors 3 and 6 months after ICU discharge %D 2022 %R 10.1183/23120541.00329-2022 %J ERJ Open Research %P 00329-2022 %X Background Knowledge regarding the long-term impact of invasive mechanical ventilation on the inspiratory muscles and functional outcomes in COVID-19 survivors is limited.Methods In this single-centre prospective cohort study, we evaluated invasively ventilated patients with COVID-19 pneumonia 3 and 6 months post -ICU discharge. Outcomes included: maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), ultrasound parameters for diaphragm function, 6-min walk distance (6MWD), dyspnea and quality of life. We evaluated associations between MIP and duration of mechanical ventilation with follow-up outcomes.Results Fifty COVID-19 survivors discharged from ICU between 15 Oct 2020 and 1 Apr 2021 were enrolled. Overall, survivors showed a recovery trajectory over time. However, impaired MIP remained in 24(48%) and 12 (24%) at 3 and 6 months, respectively. Diaphragm dysfunction was not observed. At 3 months, 23 (46%) had impaired functional capacity versus 10 (20%), at 6 months. Dyspnea persisted in 44 (88%) at 3 months and 38 (76%) at 6 months. Quality of life was slightly decreased at 3 months with further improvements at 6 months. MIP was correlated to 6MWD, 6MWD % predicted, dyspnea across follow-up and quality of life at 3 months. The duration of invasive ventilation was correlated with 6MWD and 6MWD % predicted.Conclusion In invasively ventilated COVID-19 survivors, inspiratory muscle strength impairments persisted 6 months after ICU discharge, while maintaining normal diaphragm function. Decreased functional capacity, dyspnea and slightly reduced health status were observed. Early screening of survivors is of utmost importance to identify those with impairments and at risk of delayed or incomplete recovery.FootnotesThis manuscript has recently been accepted for publication in the ERJ Open Research. It is published here in its accepted form prior to copyediting and typesetting by our production team. After these production processes are complete and the authors have approved the resulting proofs, the article will move to the latest issue of the ERJOR online. Please open or download the PDF to view this article.Conflict of interest: M.N. Núñez-Seisdedos has nothing to disclose.Conflict of interest: D. Valcárcel-Linares has nothing to discloseConflict of interest: M.T. Gómez-González has nothing to discloseConflict of interest: I. Lázaro-Navas has nothing to discloseConflict of interest: L. López-González has nothing to discloseConflict of interest: D. Pecos-Martín has nothing to discloseConflict of interest: I. Rodríguez-Costa has nothing to disclose %U https://openres.ersjournals.com/content/erjor/early/2022/10/06/23120541.00329-2022.full.pdf