Difficulty breathing and COPD key predictors for severe COVID-19

[2greys]

Shortness of breath is “significantly associated” with severe cases of Covid-19 and admission to intensive care units, according to research.

The study led by the University College London also indicates chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an inflammatory lung condition which causes long-term breathing problems, to be “the greatest risk factor” for severe cases of the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

The findings, published in the online journal MedRxiv ahead of peer review, are based on the a meta-analysis of seven peer-reviewed studies from China, covering 1,813 patients.

Results showed patients who experienced dyspnoea, or difficulty in breathing, after being infected with the virus were 3.7 times more likely to have severe disease and 6.6 times more likely be admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU), compared to those who did not show this symptom.

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Research paper

medrxiv.org/content/10.1101...

[Kristicats]

Thank you . I think everyone with copd and or heart disease realises this now.

[Badbessie]

The only time I feel short of breath is when I get a really bad infection. Thankfully I do not get many. With shortness of breath being a common symptom with our condition it is going to be difficult whilst sitting at home self diagnosing. Is it bacterial or viral. Do we start our emergency pack. The great problem with the stay at home if you have symptoms, those symptoms are common to both infections. We cannot see our GP etc and leave us in a grey area.