Article
Persistent symptoms, quality of life, and risk factors in long COVID: a cross-sectional study of hospitalized patients in Brazil
Registration in:
OLIVEIRA, Jacqueline Ferreira de et al. Persistent symptoms, quality of life, and risk factors in long COVID: a cross-sectional study of hospitalized patients in Brazil. Int J Infect Dis., v. 122, p. 1044-1051, 2022. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2022.07.063.
1201-9712
Author
Oliveira, Jacqueline Ferreira de
Ávila, Renata Eliane de
Oliveira, Neimy Ramos de
Sampaio, Natália da Cunha Severino
Botelho, Maiara
Gonçalves, Fabíola Araújo
Ferreira Neto, Cirilo José
Milagres, Ana Carolina de Almeida
Gomes, Tatiane Cristina Caldeira
Pereira, Tássia Lopardi
Souza, Renan Pedra de
Molina, Israel
Abstract
Objectives: COVID-19 has been associated with long-term consequences to patient wellness and quality of life. Data on post-COVID-19 conditions are scarce in developing countries. This study aimed to investigate long COVID in a cohort of hospitalized patients in Brazil.
Methods: Surviving patients discharged from the hospital between July 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021 were assessed between 2 and 12 months after acute onset of COVID-19. The outcomes were the prevalence of persistent symptoms, risk factors associated with long COVID, and quality of life as assessed by the EuroQol 5D-3L questionnaire.
Results: Of 439 participants, most (84%) reported at least one long COVID symptom, at a median of 138 days (interquartile range [IQR] 90-201) after disease onset. Fatigue (63.1%), dyspnea (53.7%), arthralgia (56.1%), and depression/anxiety (55.1%) were the most prevalent symptoms. In multivariate analysis, dysgeusia (odds ratio [OR] 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18-3.44, P <0.001) and intensive care unit (ICU) admission (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.19-6.56, P = 0.03) were independently associated with long COVID. Fifty percent of patients reported a worsened clinical condition and quality of life.
Conclusion: Long-term outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a low- to middle-income country were relevant. Fatigue was the most common persistent symptom. ICU admission was an independent factor associated with long COVID. Dysgeusia could be a potential predictor of long COVID.