Results: 30 patients (19 men, 11 women) with COVID-19 were included. The mean§SD age, BMI, and length
of ICU and hospital stay was 71§11 yrs, 27.9 § 6.3 kg/m, 9 § 6 days, and 26§16 days, respectively. The
mean§SD MIP, SMIP, ID, and FIT of the entire cohort at ICUD vs HD were 36§21 vs 40§20 cm H2O, 231§
157 vs 297§182 PTU, 8.8 § 4.2 vs 9.5 § 4.6 s, and 9.0 § 9.4 vs 13.1 § 12.3, respectively, with only SMIP and
FIT significantly greater at HD (p=.006 and 0.03, respectively). SMIP at HD was significantly related to resting
dyspnea at HD (r=-0.40; p=.02). The SMIP and FIT of men were found to increase significantly from ICUD to
HD, but no measure of IMP in the women increased significantly from ICUD to HD. At least one COVID-19-
related symptom was present 1 month after HD with the most persistent symptoms being fatigue, cough,
and dyspnea in 47%, 40%, and 37% of the patients, respectively.
Conclusions: A significant reduction in IMP exists in patients with COVID-19 at both ICUD and HD and no
measure of IMP in women was observed to increase significantly from ICUD to HD. Impaired inspiratory mus-
cle endurance rather than strength was associated with greater dyspnea at HD.