Table 3 Outcomes at 6 months according to intubation*

Any symptom—N (%)

39 (83)

17 (100)

− 17 (− 29 to 10)

–

0.10

Most frequent symptoms§

Fatigue—N (%)

22 (47)

13 (76)

− 30 (− 49 to − 2)

3.69 [1.05 to 13.00]

0.05

Arthralgia—N (%)

12 (26)

11 (65)

− 39 (− 60 to − 12)

5.35 [1.63 to 17.60]

0.007

Forced vital capacity % of predicted

93 [84–104]

84 [69–92]

14.53 (5.88 to 23.17)

0.009

Forced vital capacity < 80% of predicted—N (%)

5 (11)

6 (40)

− 29 (− 54 to − 6)

5.60 [1.40 to 22.44]

0.02

Forced expiratory volume in one second /Forced vital capacity ratio

0.81 [0.77–0.84]

0.85 [0.81–0.88]

− 4 (− 8 to 0)

0.03

Total lung capacity % of predicted

91 [85–98]

78 [62–90]

14.89 (7.54 to 22.23)

0.001

Total lung capacity < 80% of predicted—N (%)

6 (13)

8 (53)

− 40 (− 63 to − 13)

7.43 [1.97 to 28.08]

0.003

Diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide % of predicted

80 [71–88]

66 [47–77]

16.40 (6.51 to 26.29)

0.005

Diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide < 80% of predicted—N (%)

22 (49)

12 (86)

− 37 (− 54 to − 8)

6.27 [1.26 to 31.29]

0.03

Residual volume % of predicted

87 [78–96]

70 [58–85]

15.95 (5.42 to 26.49)

0.006

Residual volume < 80% of predicted—N (%)

14 (30)

8 (53)

− 23 (− 48 to 4)

2.61 [0.79 to 8.61]

0.13

Residual volume/total lung capacity ratio % of predicted

90 [83–101]

90 [80–96]

2.78 (− 4.48 to 10.03)

0.68

Distance walked—metres

510 [450–540]

465 [388–528]

51.84 (− 7.40 to 111.07)

0.15

Percentage of predicted value—%

128 [112–149]

122 [99–130]

20.21 (1.43 to 38.99)

0.13

Less than lower limit of the predicted value—N (%)

2 (5)

3 (27)

− 23 (− 52 to − 2)

7.69 [1.10 to 53.65]

0.05

EQ-VAS (range 0–100)

80 [70–83]

70 [53–70]

9.26 (1.89 to 16.64)

0.01

EQ-5D-5L

 Impairment in mobility (mobility > 1)—N (%)

14 (26)

10 (59)

− 33 (− 55 to − 7)

4.08 (1.30 to 12.78)

0.02

 Impairment in personal care (personal care > 1)—N (%)

9 (17)

6 (35)

− 19 (− 43 to 3)

2.73 (0.80 to 9.29)

0.17

 Impairment in usual activities (usual activities > 1)—N (%)

17 (31)

11 (65)

− 33 (− 54 to − 6)

3.99 (1.27 to 12.58)

0.02

 Reported pain or discomfort (pain or discomfort > 1)—N (%)

27 (50)

13 (76)

− 26 (− 45 to 1)

3.25 (0.94 to 11.24)

0.09

 Reported anxiety or depression (anxiety or depression > 1)—N (%)

19 (35)

7 (41)

− 6 (− 31 to 18)

1.29 (0.42 to 3.94)

0.77

PCL-5 (range 0–100)

7 [2–16]

14 [4–27]

− 5.32 (− 14.03 to 3.40)

0.10

SF-36

 Physical functioning (range 0–100)

85 [44–95]

55 [20–78]

19.38 (1.32 to 37.44)

0.01

 Limitations due to physical health (range 0–100)

63 [0–100]

0 [0–63]

23.67 (− 0.38 to 47.71)

0.05

 Limitations due to emotional problems (range 0–100)

100 [33–100]

33 [0–100]

14.46 (− 9.33 to 38.25)

0.26

 Energy/fatigue (range 0–100)

60 [40–75]

60 [28–70]

8.27 (− 3.90 to 20.44)

0.23

 Emotional well-being (range 0–100)

76 [63–88]

84 [54–90]

1.16 (− 10.08 to 12.40)

0.88

 Social functioning (range 0–100)

81 [50–100]

63 [38–94]

10.24 (− 4.67 to 25.16)

0.21

 Pain (range 0–100)

85 [55–100]

68 [39–89]

13.76 (− 0.13 to 27.65)

0.03

 General health (range 0–100)

60 [45–75]

50 [33–75]

2.86 (− 10.04 to 15.76)

0.57

 Health Change (range 0–100)

50 [25–50]

25 [25–38]

15.66 (0.48 to 30.83)

0.05