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. 2023 Sep;2(3):100091.
doi: 10.1016/j.focus.2023.100091. Epub 2023 Mar 24.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Long COVID 7-12 Months After Hospitalization Among Patients From an Urban Safety-Net Hospital: A Pilot Study

Miao Jenny Hua  1 , Sriram Gonakoti  2 , Ruhi Shariff  3 , Carlos Corpuz  2 , R Alfonso Hernandez Acosta  4 , Hillary Chang  5 , Iriagbonse Asemota  2 , Elizabeth Gobbi  3 , Katayoun Rezai  6
Affiliations

Prevalence and Characteristics of Long COVID 7-12 Months After Hospitalization Among Patients From an Urban Safety-Net Hospital: A Pilot Study

Miao Jenny Hua et al. AJPM Focus. 2023 Sep.

Abstract

Introduction: Little is known about the burden of long COVID among Black and Hispanic patients in the U.S. We surveyed adult patients hospitalized for COVID-19 at John H. Roger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, a safety-net hospital predominantly serving Black and Hispanic patients in Chicago, for persistent symptoms after hospitalization to assess prevalence and identify risk factors.

Methods: Cross-sectional data were obtained over 6 months after discharge from patients hospitalized at John H. Roger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 between October 1, 2020 and January 12, 2021. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the associations between patient characteristics and symptom persistence.

Results: Of 145 patients surveyed at a median follow-up period of 255 days (IQR=238-302), 80% were Black or Hispanic, and 50 (34%) reported at least 1 symptom. In multivariable logistic regression, the risk of long COVID was associated with the severity of acute COVID-19 illness, consistent with findings from population-based cohort studies.

Conclusions: Long COVID prevalence remains high 7 months to a year after an initial illness in a majority Black and Hispanic hospitalized cohort. There is a long-term and ongoing need to assess and address the burden of long COVID, especially among minority communities disproportionately affected by acute COVID-19.

Keywords: Long COVID; health equity; post-COVID-19 syndrome; post-acute sequelae of COVID-19.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Patients hospitalized, eligible, and surveyed.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Frequency of patient self-reported long COVID-19 symptoms (N=50).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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