Little is currently known about the immediate and long-term effect of COVID-19 on lung ventilation (delivery of air to the lungs) and lung perfusion (delivery of blood to the lungs). Some people who survive COVID-19 may have lung ventilation and/or perfusion injury that persists following COVID-19 recovery. This lung injury may be related to inflammation in the lung, breathlessness, exercise limitation and reduced quality of life. Therefore, towards the goal of understanding the effects of COVID-19 on lung health, the purpose of this study is to characterize and understand the clinical relevance of COVID-19 related lung ventilation and perfusion injury and associated inflammatory status, ≤4 weeks and 6-months following COVID-19 recovery in an asthmatic and healthy population. To do this, an asthmatic and healthy population who have, and have not, been previously diagnosed with COVID-19 will be studied.
Other: V/Q SPECT-CT
At visits 1 and 2, ventilation will be assessed by 99mTc Technegas SPECT ventilation scan and perfusion will be assessed by 99mTc Macroaggregated Albumin SPECT perfusion scan.
Other: St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ)
At visits 1 and 2, quality of life will be evaluated using the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ).
Other: mMRC (Modified Medical Research Council) Dyspnea Scale
At visits 1 and 2, dyspnea will be evaluated using the mMRC (Modified Medical Research Council) Dyspnea Scale.
Other: Six-minute walk test (6MWT)
At visits 1 and 2, exercise capacity will be evaluated using the six-minute walk test (6MWT).
Other: Spirometry
At visits 1 and 2, spirometry will be performed to quantify the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), the forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC.
Other: Plethysmography & DLCO
At visits 1 and 2, plethysmography and the diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) will be performed.
Other: Airwave Oscillometry
At visits 1 and 2, airwave oscillometry will be performed to obtain resistance (R) and reactance (X) at 5 Hz (R5) and 19 Hz (R19). The resonance frequency (fres), area above the reactance curve (AX) and the heterogeneity of obstruction (R5-19) will be derived from R and X.
Inclusion Criteria:
For all participants:
- Males and females ≥ 18 years of age
- Individuals able and willing to provide written informed consent
- Individuals able and willing to comply with the study protocol
For participants with asthma:
- Individuals with physician confirmed asthma (12% bronchodilator reversibility or PC20
methacholine less than 8mg/ml)
- Individuals treated with inhaled corticosteroids, oral corticosteroids and/or anti-T2
biologics
For participants who recently recovered from covid-19:
- Individuals previously diagnosed with covid-19 confirmed by FLOQswab test
- Individuals who recently (≤4-weeks) recovered from covid-19
Exclusion Criteria:
For all participants:
- Males and females < 18 years of age
- Individuals who are unable to read and/or understand English
- Individuals who are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Individuals who currently smoke or are an ex-smoker with ≥10 pack-year smoking history
- Individuals who in the opinion of the investigator, are mentally or legally
incapacitated, preventing informed consent from being obtained
- Individuals who are unable to complete one or more study manoeuvres
For participants with no history of lung disease:
- Individuals with a history of respiratory infection or disease
For participants who have not been diagnosed with covid-19:
- Individuals who have previously had covid-19 confirmed by FLOQswab test
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Investigator: Sarah Svenningsen, PhD
Contact: 1 (905) 522-1155
svennins@mcmaster.ca
Investigator:
Sarah Svenningsen, PhD
+1 (905) 522-1155 - 37313
svennins@mcmaster.ca
Sarah Svenningsen, PhD, Principal Investigator
McMaster University