CORRELATION BETWEEN BREATH HOLDING TIME AND COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IN LONG COVID PATIENTS

Abstract

Background -   In Coronavirus disease19 (COVID-19) majority of the patients had been associated with multiple organ damage. The major manifestation of COVID-19 infection is

Pneumonia. Computed tomography (CT) Thorax has emerged as a diagnostic tool for assessing pulmonary involvement in COVID-19, while Breath-Holding Time (BHT) represents a simple yet informative measure of respiratory function. The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between Breath Holding time and CT Thorax in Long COVID-19 patient.

Methods – An Ambi-directional study involving 50 Long COVID patients with CO-RADS ≥ 1.

Results – In this study population, majority were males. Among co-morbidities majority of the patients were having diabetes. The results showed a significant correlation between CO-RADS score and Breath Holding Time. Patients with higher CO-RADS scores, indicating more severe lung abnormalities on CT scans, had shorter breath holding times.

Conclusion - There is a strong correlation between CO-RADS score and Breath Holding Time in Long COVID patients, indicates that the severity of lung abnormalities on CT Thorax is associated with impaired lung function and reduced breath holding capacity. Breath Holding Time (BHT) can be used as a simple, non-invasive measure of lung function in Long COVID patients and also to follow up lung function over time.