Post-COVID-19 Syndrome as Described by Patients: A Qualitative Study.

Area of Science:

• Medical Research
• Public Health
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Growing interest in post-viral conditions after COVID-19 infection.
• Development of multiple definitions for post-COVID-19 syndrome.
• Need to understand patient perspectives on post-COVID-19 syndrome.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the meaning of post-COVID-19 syndrome for survivors of the first pandemic wave.
• To understand patient experiences two years after initial SARS-CoV-2 infection.
• To investigate patient understanding and information sources regarding post-COVID-19 syndrome.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive qualitative study adhering to Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) guidelines.
• Inductive and content analysis of patient narratives.
• Interviews conducted with patients infected during the first COVID-19 wave in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy.

Main Results:

• 158 out of 230 patients experienced post-COVID-19 syndrome; 46 (29.1%) still suffered 24 months post-infection.
• Patients reported an average of three symptoms, often experiencing at least one.
• Post-COVID-19 syndrome described by patients as interrelated physical/psychological symptoms and a prolonged struggle.

Conclusions:

• Post-COVID-19 syndrome is highly prevalent yet poorly understood by patients.
• Patients frequently access low-quality information about post-COVID-19 syndrome, often from media and the internet.
• There is a critical need to address long-term COVID-19 consequences, integrating patient lived experiences into clinical understanding.