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Background The long-term sequelae after COVID-19 are not yet fully known. Our aim was to evaluate subjective symptoms and quality of life in Finnish hospitalized COVID-19 patients at six months follow-up. Methods Hospitalised adult patients with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection from March to June 2020 were recruited. We conducted a survey on demographics and comorbidities, ten specific symptoms, and a RAND-36 quality of life questionnaire six months after hospital discharge. We collected clinical data manually from medical records. Results 101 patients (54 male) out of 246 invited completed the survey. Their median age was 60 years, and the mean hospital length of stay was 15 d. Most patients (90%) experienced symptoms, the most common of which were tiredness (88%), fatigue (79%), sleeping problems (76%), and dyspnoea (70%). In regard to gender, women showed a shorter time of hospitalization (p = .048) and lower peak flow of supplementary oxygen (p = .043). Women reported more frequently dyspnoea, fatigue, tiredness, sleeping problems, and mood problems (p = .008-.033), and a lower quality of life in seven of eight dimensions (p < .001-.015). Five explanatory variables for the reduced quality of life were identified in multivariate analysis: age, female sex, BMI, sleep apnoea, and duration of mechanical ventilation. Of the patients who worked full-time before COVID-19, 11% had not returned to work. Conclusions Most patients experienced symptoms six months after hospital discharge. Women reported more symptoms and a lower quality of life than men. These findings highlight the differences in recovery between men and women and call for active rehabilitation of COVID-19 patients.

Purpose Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) alleviates sleepiness in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS), but part of OSAS patients keep gaining weight. Leptin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) interact with energy balance, and CPAP therapy has been suggested to influence these endocrine factors. We hypothesised that leptin would decrease during long-term CPAP therapy, and weight gain would associate with OSAS severity, lower CPAP adherence, lower IGF-1, and leptin concentrations. Methods Consecutive patients (n = 223) referred to sleep study with suspected OSAS were enrolled. Patients underwent cardiorespiratory polygraphy at baseline. Questionnaires were completed, and blood samples were drawn both at baseline and after 3 years. A total of 149 (67%; M 65, F 84) patients completed the follow-up. Plasma samples were available from 114 patients, 109 of which with CPAP adherence data (49 CPAP users, 60 non-users). Results At baseline, the CPAP users were more obese and had more severe OSAS than the non-users. Leptin concentrations did not differ. After follow-up, leptin concentrations were higher in CPAP users (30.2 ng/ml vs. 16.8 ng/ml; p = 0.001). In regression analysis, increase in leptin concentrations was independent of age, baseline body mass index (BMI), or the change in BMI. Leptin concentrations increased among females (− 8.9 vs. 12.7 ng/ml; p

Follow-up studies of COVID-19 patients have found lung function impairment up to six months after initial infection, but small airway function has not previously been studied. Patients (n = 20) hospitalised for a severe SARS-CoV-2 infection underwent spirometry, impulse oscillometry, and multiple measurements of alveolar nitric oxide three to six months after acute infection. None of the patients had small airway obstruction, nor increased nitric oxide concentration in the alveolar level. None of the patients had a reduced FEV1/FVC or significant bronchodilator responses in IOS or spirometry. In conclusion, we found no evidence of inflammation or dysfunction in the small airways.

Background Treating sleep disordered breathing (SDB) with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may reduce mortality, but the studies on the effect on medication use are few. Women tend to have more mild sleep apnoea and partial airway obstruction and are therefore expected to have less co-morbidity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of CPAP therapy on medication use in women as overall medication, and in different subcategories of diseases, and to evaluate the impact of nocturnal airway obstruction type as partial or complete. Methods From the database of the Department of Pulmonary Diseases in Turku University Hospital from 1994 to 1998, 601 consecutive females with SDB were enrolled, and the type of SDB was evaluated. All were offered CPAP therapy. The medication use measured as defined daily doses (DDD) in overall medication and in nine subcategories were collected three years before and three years after CPAP initiation. Results In final analyses, 182 women were included. In CPAP users (n = 66), comorbidities were more frequent and DDDs higher overall, in asthma, in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and in severe mental disorders, both before and after CPAP initiation. The medication use was similar regardless of the type of SDB. The change in medication use was similar as in controls. Conclusions CPAP therapy did not decrease medication use in three-year follow-up. However, possibly continuous rise in medication use was prevented, as the change in medication use was similar in controls. Complete and partial obstruction had similar effects.