Persistence of COVID-19 symptoms beyond 3 months and the delayed return to the usual state of health in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study
Persistence of COVID-19 symptoms beyond 3 months and the delayed return to the usual state of health in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study
Blog Article
A substantial number of COVID-19 survivors describe ongoing symptoms long after the acute phase.This so-called post-COVID-19 syndrome or long COVID occurs irrespective of initial disease severity.Objectives: This cross-sectional study aims to describe and characterise the prevalence of persistent COVID-19 symptoms beyond three months and to evaluate the risk factors for the delayed return to the usual state of health.Methods: An electronic survey was developed, piloted, and conducted during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The survey consisted of questions exploring socio-demographic data, comorbidities, COVID-19 disease (diagnosis, presenting symptoms, management, and persistent symptoms), and the return to the usual state of health.Participants were users of social media platforms.We received results from 746 respondents.One hundred thirty-six responses were excluded due to a self-diagnosis of COVID-19.
Respondents reporting a COVID-19 diagnosis 3 months or more prior to the study (N = 213) were included in the Pan Handle Covers analysis.Predictors of the delayed return to the usual state of health were identified by logistic regression.Results: Three months or more after a COVID-19 diagnosis, almost half of the respondents, 109 (51.2%), had residual symptoms.
The five most prevalent persistent symptoms were fatigue (13.6%), altered sense of smell (12.7%), muscle aches (10.3%), headache (9.
9%), and body aches (8.5%).When questioned regarding the return to baseline health, 152 (71.4%) answered in the affirmative.
The total number of chronic medical conditions was determined as a statistically significant predictor for the delayed return to the usual state of health.Conclusion: Three months or more after acute COVID-19 Miscellaneous infection, 5 out of 10 survivors experienced persistent symptoms, and 3 out of 10 reported a delayed return to baseline health.Considering the overall burden of COVID-19 disease, this can pose health and socio-economic challenges.Therefore, health systems need support in managing long COVID and improving long-term COVID-19 outcomes.