Long-term Assessment of Organ Functions Among Survivors of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

SARS-CoV has caused severe epidemic respiratory disease in human populations. By July 2003, a total of 8,096 probable cases of SARS had been reported including 774 deaths in 27 countries, around one-third of which were health care workers (HCWs). Previous studies have been reported about long-term impacts of SARS infection, including lung function deficiency, steroid-induced osteonecrosis, reduced exercise capacity, and impairment in health-related quality of life (HRQoL). HCWs, especially nurses, have been reported to experience greater psychological distress, particularly increased levels of posttraumatic stress symptomatology (PTSS). But the very complex impacts of this fatal infection on HCWs have not been fully elucidated. It is thus important to follow these occupational patients to detect and manage multi-organ sequelae and functional impairment.