Evaluation of Inflammatory Biomarkers in Post-COVID-19 Arthritis: a Cross-Sectional Study from Telangana, South India

Long COVID, a post-COVID-19 syndrome, has been linked to various musculoskeletal manifestations, particularly arthritic symptoms. This study aimed to evaluate the inflammatory markers associated with long COVID in patients diagnosed with COVID arthritis.

A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted in a tertiary care centre in Telangana, India, involving 139 PCR-confirmed COVID-19 patients diagnosed with arthritis. Eligible participants were COVID-free for one month to six months. Clinical histories, including severity of arthritis symptoms, levels of inflammatory markers (LDH, uric acid, serum ferritin, rheumatoid factor [RF] and CRP) and radiological investigations (radiographs and ultrasound) were recorded and analyzed. Follow-up assessments occurred at six months, with repeated measurements of inflammatory markers for statistical significance.

The predominant clinical presentations included joint aches, restricted movement, swelling, myalgia and fatigue, with 95% of subjects relying on over-the-counter analgesics. Notably, all measured inflammatory markers decreased over the six-month follow-up, with statistically significant reductions being observed in LDH, RF and CRP levels.

COVID arthritis is a complication of long COVID that affects both men and women, with persistent elevation of inflammatory biomarkers. While levels decreased during the follow-up period, extended monitoring is necessary to determine the duration required for normalization. Further research is warranted to understand the long-term implications of these findings.