Post-COVID Lung Function with Steroid and/or Antifibrotic in A Tertiary Hospital of Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Antifibrotic medication with or without steroid might be beneficial to prevent this postcovid fibrotic event; however, evidence could not establish it yet.

Objective: To assess the effects of steroid and antifibrotics on the changes of SPO2 and 6MWD in COVID-19 patients whether antifibrotic has any beneficial effect combined with steroid to improve lung function.

Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 76 moderate to severe COVID-19 patients admitted in Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, Barishal, Bangladesh, between June 2020 and June 2021. After recording the SPO2 and 6MWD, we gave steroid to 57 patients while the rest 19 patients received steroid and antifibrotic depending on severity. We followed the patients after 1 week, 6 weeks and 12 weeks of discharge to determine their SPO2 and 6MWD change as outcome variable.

Results: We recorded nearly 83% improvement (n=63) of post Covid respiratory complains as evidenced by improved SPO2 of 76.9% from baseline to 96.7% in steroid group and from 74.6% to 95.6% in antifibrotic group (p<0.001). The 6MWD test also improved from 62 meter (p<0.001). Similarly, there was a significant improvement of 6MWD test from 53.1, 125.0 and 133.4 meter in 1st follow up, 2nd follow up and 3rd follow up respectively (p<0.001). On further analysis, we found that the antifibrotic treatment improved SPO2 and 6MWD test better than steroid only treatment group.

Conclusion: Antifibrotic treatment with steroid improves pulmonary function better than steroid only in terms of SPO2 and 6MWD.

International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Vol. 08 No. 01 Jan’24 Page: 38-43