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Nitin Goel, Nitesh Goyal, Ravishankar Nagaraja, and Raj Kumar
November 3, 2021
Monaldi Archives for Chest Disease
Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute (India)

"Abstract: ... During the study duration, out of the 4,542 patients managed in the outpatient department of the particular unit, there were 49 patients of Long-COVID. The patients having abnormal computed tomography (CT) along with resting hypoxia or exertional desaturation were treated with systemic steroid (deflazacort) in tapering doses for 8-10 weeks. We retrospectively analysed the clinical and radiological findings of these patients at first presentation and at about 3 months of follow up visit. On follow up, all the 49 long-COVID patients showed improvement. The occurrence of breathlessness decreased from 91.83% to 44.89% (p<0.001) and cough from 77.55% to 8.16% (p<0.001). Twenty-four patients were prescribed systemic steroids. Out of these, nearly 58% patients had MMRC [Medical Research Council] grade 4 breathlessness, which decreased to < 2 MMRC in about 86% of these patients... Occurrence of normal chest X-ray increased from 12% to 71% (p<0.001)... Hence, we conclude that systemic steroids are helpful in hastening recovery of select subset of long-COVID patients."

document
adverse events,COVID-19,long COVID,medical treatments