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Post-COVID Syndrome in Southern Tunisia: Prevalence, Clinical Spectrum, and Associated Factors Among Non-Severe
Nouha Ketata1, Jihen Jdidi1, Hanen Maamri1
1Preventive medicine and epidemiology Department, CHU Hedi Chaker Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia.
Introduction:
Post-COVID syndrome, a long-term consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, remains insufficiently understood. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of post-COVID syndrome, describe its clinical spectrum, and identify associated factors among patients with non-severe forms of the disease.
Methods:
We conducted a cross-sectional study using telephone interviews in Sfax, southern Tunisia, during January 2021. The study population included individuals who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in October 2020. Minors and deceased individuals were excluded. Post-COVID syndrome was defined as the persistence of symptoms for more than eight weeks following the initial COVID-19 diagnosis.
Results:
A total of 2,070 patients were enrolled. The sample included 1,230 women (59.4%), with a male-to-female ratio of 0.68. The median age was 40 years [semi-interquartile range (SIR): 12.5 years]. The prevalence of post-COVID syndrome was 41.6% (n = 861). Among these, 229 patients (26.5%) consulted a physician for persistent symptoms, and 122 (14.13%) underwent further paraclinical evaluation. The most commonly reported symptoms were ageusia (68.9%), cognitive difficulties including concentration and memory impairment (24.9%), and fatigue (17.4%). Independent factors significantly associated with post-COVID syndrome included: age under 60 years (AOR = 1.8; 95% CI: 1.50-2.66), female gender (AOR = 1.6; 95% CI: 1.35-1.96), history of chronic respiratory disease (AOR = 1.8; 95% CI: 1.2-2.8), history of cancer (AOR = 3.5; 95% CI: 1.03-12.2), anticoagulant therapy (AOR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.1-1.8), salicylic acid use (AOR = 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1-1.9), and initial clinical severity categorized as mild (AOR = 5.5; 95% CI: 3.5-8.5) or moderate (AOR = 7.1; 95% CI: 4.2-11.9).
Conclusion:
A better understanding of the long-term manifestations of COVID-19, such as post-COVID syndrome, is essential. In the context of widespread vaccination and evolving variants, multidisciplinary approaches must be reconsidered to improve patient follow-up and healthcare strategies.
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