title: [Assessment of pulmonary function in SARS patients during the convalescent period].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the pulmonary function in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients during the convalescent period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Followup 89 outpatients of SARS. The follow-up study included interview, physical examination, and pulmonary function test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The interval between hospital discharge and functional assessment was 1.75 +/- 0.53 months (0.5-3.4 months). Mild to moderate abnormalities in pulmonary function were found in 48 patients (53.9%). Diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLco) was impaired in 38 patients (42.7%); in 7 patients (7.9%), lung function was restrictive defect combined DLco impairment; Other patterns of impairment were revealed in 3 patient. Dyspnea during acute phase and CT during the convalescent period were found to have significant influences on DLco and total lung capacity (TLC).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diffusing capacity impairment as well as restrictive defect persist in convalescence SARS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, PUMC Hospital, CAMS and PUMC, Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Bai-qiang
authors.initials: BQ
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Wen-bing
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Ju-hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Jiang-na
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Wei-hong
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003289:Convalescence; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*