2008 The impact of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome on pulmonary function, exercise capacity, health and work status in survivors 2 years after illness onset
Dr Ngai Chun Li, Jenny
Department of Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital
Objectives
To examine the long term outcome of pulmonary function, exercise capacity, health related quality of life (HRQoL) and work status among SARS survivors.
Method
A prospective study of SARS patients at the Prince of Wales Hospital with serial assessment of lung function, 6-minute-walk distance (6MWD) and 36-item Short-Form General Health Survey (SF-36) at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after disease onset. The work status was also recorded.
Results
Fifty-five patients completed the serial assessments and 27 were healthcare workers. At 24-month, 10 (18.2%), 9 (16.4%), 6 (10.9%) and 29 (52.7%) subjects had FEV1, FVC, TLC, and DLCO values <80% of predicted values, respectively. 6MWD and SF-36 score were lower than normal population. Moreover, 30% of healthcare workers had not returned to work 2 years after illness onset.
Conclusion
In this study of a small population of highly selected SARS survivors, significant impairment of DLCO, exercise capacity and HRQoL persisted whereas 30% of healthcare workers had not returned to work 2 years after illness onset.
