Symptom Profile of Patients With Post-COVID-19 Conditions and Influencing Factors for Recovery

Norihiro Matsuoka; Takuo Mizutani; Koji Kawakami

doi:10.14740/jocmr4855

Symptom Profile of Patients With Post-COVID-19 Conditions and Influencing Factors for Recovery

J Clin Med Res. 2023 Feb;15(2):116-126. doi: 10.14740/jocmr4855. Epub 2023 Feb 28.

Authors

Norihiro Matsuoka¹, Takuo Mizutani¹, Koji Kawakami²

Affiliations

¹ Jyoto Hospital, 2-11-22, Hanaten-higashi, Tsurumi-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 538-0044, Japan.
² Department of Pharmacoepidemiology, Graduate School of Medicine and Public Health, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.

Abstract

Background: The aim of the study was to examine the factors that influence the improvement of post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms.

Methods: We investigated the biomarkers and post-COVID-19 symptoms status of 120 post-COVID-19 symptomatic outpatients (44 males and 76 females) visiting our hospital. This study was a retrospective analysis, so we analyzed the course of symptoms only for those who could follow the progress of the symptoms for 12 weeks. We analyzed the data including the intake of zinc acetate hydrate.

Results: The main symptoms that remained after 12 weeks were, in descending order: taste disorder, olfactory disorder, hair loss, and fatigue. Fatigue was improved in all cases treated with zinc acetate hydrate 8 weeks later, exhibiting a significant difference from the untreated group (P = 0.030). The similar trend was observed even 12 weeks later, although there was no significant difference (P = 0.060). With respect to hair loss, the group treated with zinc acetate hydrate showed significant improvements 4, 8, and 12 weeks later, compared with the untreated group (P = 0.002, P = 0.002, and P = 0.006).

Conclusion: Zinc acetate hydrate may improve fatigue and hair loss as symptoms after contracting COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; Fatigue; Hair loss; Post-COVID-19 conditions; SARS-CoV-2; Sequela.