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. 2023 Dec;25(6):e14167.
doi: 10.1111/tid.14167. Epub 2023 Nov 3.

Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 in solid organ transplant recipients

Rachel Sigler  1 , Karina Covarrubias  2 , Benjamin Chen  3 , Rodrigo Barriola Rubarth  4 , Kelly Torosian  4 , Claudia Ramirez Sanchez  2 , Ajay Bharti  2 , Victor DeGruttola  5 , Saima Aslam  2
Affiliations

Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 in solid organ transplant recipients

Rachel Sigler et al. Transpl Infect Dis. 2023 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Post-acute sequelae of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (PASC), defined as prolonged symptoms following an episode of COVID-19, is not well-characterized in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTR). In this study, we aimed to assess the prevalence of PASC in SOTR, its descriptive characteristics, and associated risk factors.

Methods: We retrospectively identified SOTRs with acute COVID-19 between June 1, 2020 and April 15, 2022, and abstracted demographic and medical history, characteristics of acute COVID-19 illness, and COVID-19 vaccination status. We defined PASC as ongoing/new symptoms present at 6 weeks or longer following acute COVID-19 diagnosis.

Results: Among 208 SOTRs with acute COVID-19, 72 (35%) developed PASC. Common symptoms were respiratory symptoms (67%), headache (40%), and difficulty concentrating (10%). Severe acute COVID-19 disease and presence of respiratory symptoms were associated with higher odds of PASC in multivariable analyses, while receipt of at least one COVID-19 vaccination prior to transplantation was protective.

Conclusion: We found that PASC occurs in about a third of SOTRs with acute COVID-19 and has similar symptoms as described previously in immunocompetent hosts. Pre-transplant vaccination may be protective. Further prospective multicenter studies are needed.

Keywords: COVID-19; immunocompromise; long COVID; post-acute sequelae of COVID-19; solid organ transplant.

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Conflict of interest statement

Potential Conflicts of Interest:

RS: declares no conflict of interest.

KC: declares no conflict of interest.

BC: declares no conflict of interest.

CR: declares no conflict of interest.

RR: declares no conflict of interest.

KT: declares no conflict of interest

AB: declares no conflict of interest.

VG: declares no conflict of interest.

SA: Consultant for BioMx and Phico. Medical Advisory Board for Pherecydes. Research funding from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, NIH/NCATS, NIH/NIAID and Contrafect Corporation.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Presence of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) symptoms at 6, 12, and 24 weeks after COVID-19 infection.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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