Karakurt, GokhanUcgun, HikmetAynaci, EnginDuger, MustafaDemir, Sukru E.2024-03-132024-03-1320231105-848X1791-4914https://doi.org/10.18332/pne/174604https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12662/3781INTRODUCTION The aim of our study was to investigate the long-term effects of different doses of steroid therapy given in the acute period in hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. METHODS A total of 78 patients who were followed up in the hospital due to COVID-19 pneumonia and were discharged from the hospital more than 3 months ago, were included in our study. The patients were divided into 3 groups according to the steroid doses they received. RESULTS The value of peak expiratory flow (PEF) was significantly lower in pulse-dose steroid group compared to high-dose steroid group (p=0.040). There was a significant difference in the values of carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (DLCO) and diffusion coefficient of alveolar volume (DLCO/VA) among all groups (p=0.027, p=0.048). The values of DLCO and DLCO/VA were significantly lower in the pulse-dose steroid group compared to the high-dose steroid group (p=0.022, p=0.049). The computed tomography (CT) score was significantly higher in the pulse-dose steroid group compared to both the nonsteroid group and high-dose steroid group (p=0.027, p=0.043). CONCLUSIONS Pulse-dose steroid therapy given in the acute period of COVID-19 pneumonia may negatively affect pulmonary function and recovery in the long-term. In addition, high-dose steroids were found to have a positive effect on pulmonary function compared to pulse-steroid therapy and nonsteroid therapy.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessCOVID-19DLCOpulmonary functionsteroidArticle10.18332/pne/1746042-s2.0-85179328818Q4WOS:001118606300001N/A