Incidence of post-COVID-19 syndrome and its association with COVID-19 severity in a tertiary private hospital: Prospective cohort study

Ericka Lyn A Monzon; Kingbherly L Li

doi:10.1016/j.ijregi.2023.08.005

Incidence of post-COVID-19 syndrome and its association with COVID-19 severity in a tertiary private hospital: Prospective cohort study

IJID Reg. 2023 Aug 13:9:14-17. doi: 10.1016/j.ijregi.2023.08.005. eCollection 2023 Dec.

Authors

Ericka Lyn A Monzon¹, Kingbherly L Li²

Affiliations

¹ Resident-in-Training, Department of Internal Medicine, Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center, Manila, Philippines.
² Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center, Manila, Philippines.

Abstract

Objectives: We determined the incidence of post-COVID-19 syndrome and its association with COVID-19 severity among patients discharged in a tertiary private hospital.

Methods: This single-center prospective cohort study included admitted patients 18 years old and older, diagnosed with COVID-19, discharged recovered, and interviewed at least 6 months from onset of COVID-19. Incidence of post-COVID-19 syndrome obtained and its association with COVID-19 severity was analyzed.

Results: Among the 280 patients included in the study, 71.43% were diagnosed with post-COVID-19 syndrome, with higher proportion in men (53%). The median age was 50 (18-92) years old. All severe COVID-19 cases (21%) had post-COVID-19 syndrome. The leading comorbidities were hypertension (25%) and diabetes mellitus (10%). Top three symptoms were shortness of breath (42%), fatigue (38%), and body malaise (36%). Moderate cases had about five times higher odds of post-COVID-19 syndrome than mild cases. Severe cases had 92 times higher odds of having post-COVID-19 syndrome than mild cases. COVID-19 severity at baseline was significantly associated with post-COVID-19 syndrome.

Conclusion: This study found a high incidence of post-COVID-19 syndrome with a higher proportion occurring in men. Severe cases had higher odds of having post-COVID-19 syndrome than mild cases.

Keywords: Pneumonia; Post-COVID-19 syndrome; SARS-CoV-2.