A multidisciplinary approach to screen the post-COVID-19 conditions

Area of Science:

• Medical research
• Infectious diseases
• Pulmonology

Background:

• Post-COVID-19 conditions (PCC) encompass diverse symptoms affecting multiple organ systems.
• A multidisciplinary approach was employed to evaluate the frequency and nature of these conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence and types of symptoms experienced by patients following COVID-19 hospitalization.
• To identify factors associated with the persistence or development of symptoms during follow-up.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 361 patients admitted for SARS-CoV-2 infection were evaluated at discharge and follow-up.
• Symptoms were categorized into five groups: respiratory, neurological, psychological, muscular, and other.
• Logistic multivariable regression analyzed associations between patient characteristics and symptom presence.

Main Results:

• 87.8% of patients were symptomatic at discharge, with one-third reporting three or more symptom categories.
• At follow-up, 67.3% had at least one persistent symptom, and 44% developed new symptoms.
• Male gender, ICU admission, and discharge symptoms were associated with symptom presence at follow-up.

Conclusions:

• Post-COVID-19 conditions are highly variable and can fluctuate over time, with new symptoms emerging in approximately 50% of patients.
• The persistence of symptoms, even in patients without them at discharge, highlights the need for a multidisciplinary approach.