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. 2023 Oct 27:6:100126.
doi: 10.1016/j.gloepi.2023.100126. eCollection 2023 Dec.

Post-COVID-19 syndrome: Descriptive analysis based on a survivors' cohort in Colombia

Martin Romero  1 , Martha Caicedo  1 , Andrea Díaz  1 , Delia Ortega  2 , Claudia Llanos  3 , Alejandro Concha  4 , Andrés Vallejo  5 , Fernando Valdés  6 , César González  7
Affiliations

Post-COVID-19 syndrome: Descriptive analysis based on a survivors' cohort in Colombia

Martin Romero et al. Glob Epidemiol. .

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of post-COVID-19 Syndrome (PCS) is estimated to be between 10% and 20%. The main reported symptoms are fatigue, memory alterations, dyspnea, sleep disorders, arthralgia, anxiety, taste alterations, coughing and depression. This study aims to determine the prevalence of post-COVID-19 symptoms in a group of Colombian patients who were recruited during their outpatient appointments.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2021 to May 2022. It included patients from outpatient facilities located in five main cities in Colombia who were positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing and reported PCS in the following 12 weeks after their COVID-19 diagnosis.

Results: A total of 1047 individuals >18 years old met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. The median age was 46 years old. 68.2% of the participants were female, 41.5% of the patients reported having a pre-existent condition (hypertension, anxiety disorder, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, obesity and asthma). Only 22% had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine prior to the COVID-19 episode registered. The more prevalent symptoms within our group are described as follows: fatigue (53.3%), dyspnea (40.3%), arthralgia and/or myalgia (43%), cephalea (40.5%), sleep disorders (35.7%) and coughing (31.3%). 72% of the patients presented four or more post-COVID 19 symptoms, 9% two symptoms, and 10% only one symptom.

Conclusion: The findings of this study are consistent with international literature publicly available. The distribution and prevalence of post-COVID symptoms highlight the importance of further research to improve understanding and its potential consequences and implications in terms of quality of life and health care planning services.

Keywords: Long COVID; Post-COVID-19 syndrome; Prevalence.

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Conflict of interest statement

This study was funded by Tecnoquímicas, however, the literature search, study development, and interpretation of results were conducted independently and objectively by the authors. The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Clinical findings post COVID-19 syndrome.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Symptoms in patients with PCS categorized by age groups.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Post COVID-19 symptoms according to medical assistance offered.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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