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. 2021 Jan 29;8(4):ofab042.
doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofab042. eCollection 2021 Apr.

Persistent Symptoms in Patients Recovering From COVID-19 in Denmark

Steffen Leth  1 , Jesper Damsgaard Gunst  1   2 , Victor Mathiasen  1 , Kristoffer Hansen  1 , Ole Søgaard  1   2 , Lars Østergaard  1   2 , Søren Jensen-Fangel  1 , Merete Storgaard  1 , Jane Agergaard  1
Affiliations

Persistent Symptoms in Patients Recovering From COVID-19 in Denmark

Steffen Leth et al. Open Forum Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Although persistent symptoms after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are emerging as a major complication to the infection, data on the diversity and duration of symptoms are needed.

Methods: Patients aged ≥18 years with a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 who were hospitalized at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, in the period from March 11 to May 15 were offered follow-up after hospitalization. On admission, a comprehensive symptom and medical history was collected, including demographic characteristics, duration of symptoms, comorbidities, and concomitant medications. At discharge, patients were offered follow-up consultations-either by telephone or at an in-person visit-at 6 and 12 weeks at our post-COVID-19 outpatient clinic to assess whether symptoms present at admission had resolved.

Results: During the inclusion period, 71 patients were admitted with COVID-19. Of these, 10 patients died, 3 were transferred to another region, 4 declined to participate, and 5 were lost to follow-up before the 12-week evaluation. Thus, 49 patients were included. Overall, 96% reported 1 or more persisting symptoms at 12-week follow-up. The main symptoms were fatigue, dyspnea, cough, chemosensory dysfunction, and headache.

Conclusions: A wide range of persistent symptoms in patients recovering from COVID-19 were present 12 weeks after hospitalization, calling for larger descriptive studies and interdisciplinary research collaborations.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; post-COVID-19.

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