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Multicenter Study
. 2022 Feb;84(2):179-186.
doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2021.12.005. Epub 2021 Dec 10.

Post-sequelae one year after hospital discharge among older COVID-19 patients: A multi-center prospective cohort study

Xiaoyu Fang  1 , Chao Ming  2 , Yuan Cen  3 , Hao Lin  4 , Kegang Zhan  5 , Sha Yang  6 , Li Li  7 , Guoqiang Cao  7 , Qi Li  8 , Xiangyu Ma  9
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Post-sequelae one year after hospital discharge among older COVID-19 patients: A multi-center prospective cohort study

Xiaoyu Fang et al. J Infect. 2022 Feb.

Abstract

Background: To systematically evaluate the prevalence of post-sequelae and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease assessment test (CAT) scoring one year after hospital discharge among older COVID-19 patients, as well as potential risk factors.

Methods: A multi-center prospective cohort study involving 1,233 eligible older COVID-19 patients was conducted. All patients were followed-up between Mar 1, 2021 and Mar 20, 2021. CAT scoring was adopted to measure symptom burden in COVID-19 patients.

Results: Of the 1233 eligible cases, 630 (51.1%) reported at least one sequelae. The top six post-sequelae included fatigue (32.4%), sweating (20.0%), chest tightness (15.8%), anxiety (11.4%), myalgia (9.0%), and cough (5.8%). Severe patients had significantly higher percentage of fatigue, sweating, chest tightness, myalgia, and cough (P<0.05), while anxiety was universal in all subjects. Sweating, anxiety, palpitation, edema of lower limbs, smell reduction, and taste change were emerging sequelae. Disease severity during hospitalization (OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.15-1.84, P = 0.002), and follow-up time (OR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.50-0.99, P = 0.043) were independently associated with risk of post-sequelae, while disease severity during hospitalization was significantly associated with increased risk of emerging sequelae (OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.03-1.71, P = 0.029). The median of CAT score was 2 (0-5) in all patients, and a total of 120 patients (9.7%) had CAT scores ≥10. Disease severity during hospitalization (OR: 1.81, 95% CI: 1.23-2.67, P = 0.003) and age (OR: 1.07, 95% CI: 1.04-1.09, P<0.001) were significantly associated with increased risk of CAT scores ≥10.

Conclusions: While the dramatic decline in the prevalence rate of persistent symptoms is reassuring, new sequelae among older COVID-19 patients cannot be ignored. Disease severity during hospitalization, age, and follow-up time contributed to the risk of post-sequelae and CAT scoring one year after hospital discharge among older COVID-19 patients. Our study provides valuable clues for long-term post-sequelae of the older COVID-19 patients, as well as their risk factors.

Keywords: COVID-19; Older people; SARS-CoV-2; Sequelae; Wuhan.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig. 1
flowchart of the inclusion of the older COVID-19 patients.
Fig 2
Fig. 2
Percentage of patients presenting with COVID-19-related sequelae during the acute phase of the disease (left) and at 1-year follow-up (right).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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