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Post-Coronavirus Disease 2019 Effects in an Active University Population: A Within-Campus Cross-Sectional Study at a
Marcelo Hernández-Mora1, René Arredondo-Hernández2, Carmen A Castañeda-Camacho1,2
1MD, Center for SARS-CoV-2 Diagnosis for the University Community, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico.
Insights
Post-COVID-19 symptoms affect nearly 75% of university outpatients, with fatigue and headache being most common. Comorbidities like obesity and hypertension significantly worsen long-term health and mental well-being.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- The long-term effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and associated risk factors remain under investigation.
- Understanding post-COVID-19 conditions in specific populations is crucial for targeted healthcare interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of post-COVID-19 symptoms in a university outpatient setting.
- To identify risk factors and comorbidities associated with post-COVID-19 conditions.
- To assess the impact of these conditions on quality of life and mental health.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective review of 881 COVID-19 outpatient records was conducted.
- Patient data included demographics, infection details, and comorbidity status.
- A survey assessed post-COVID-19 symptoms, their duration, and impact on well-being.
Main Results:
- Post-COVID-19 symptoms were reported by 74.96% of patients, with fatigue, headache, and difficulty concentrating being most prevalent.
- Over 60% of participants had at least one comorbidity, including obesity (35.9%), smoking (17.5%), and hypertension (12.2%).
- A strong association was found between comorbidities and negative impacts on quality of life and mental health.
Conclusions:
- Post-COVID-19 is highly prevalent in university outpatients.
- Comorbidities are significant factors influencing the severity and long-term consequences of post-COVID-19.
- These findings highlight the need for comprehensive management strategies for patients experiencing post-COVID-19 conditions.
Objective:
To evaluate the associations among post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevalence; risk factors and comorbidities have not been firmly established within a university outpatient population.
Patients And Methods:
Records from 881 COVID-19 outpatient patients (504 females [57.9%] and 366 males [42.07%]), most of whom were between 30 and 40 years of age (mean=37.3 years old; 95% CI, 36.5-38.2), with initial infection data from February 2020 to August 2022 were reviewed once, whereas the survey took place during 2 different moments during the pandemic. The first period (April 20, 2021, to June 21, 2021) yielded 279 responses, whereas in the second period (June 23, 2021, to October 4, 2021), 602 responses were recorded. The instrument used contained 20 questions across 3 main domains: general information, data related to infection and adverse effects, and service satisfaction experience.
Results:
All the patients were positive for immunoglobulin G antibodies against nucleocapsid by the third week. Post-COVID-19 symptoms arose at least 2 weeks after recovery from the initial illness; 654 individuals reported at least one symptom after the acute COVID-19 period, for a post-COVID-19 prevalence of 74.96%. The most frequent symptoms were fatigue (84%), headache (71%), and difficulty concentrating (71%). More than 60% of participants reported at least one comorbidity, among which the most common ones were obesity (35.9%), smoking (17.5%), and hypertension (12.2%).
Conclusion:
In this study, we assessed post-COVID-19 prevalence among outpatients and found that comorbidities were strongly related to consequences impacting quality of life and mental health burden.
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