ABSTRACT
Background. We conducted a follow up study on patients previously diagnosed with COVID-19 one year ago in an urban community in Paterson, New Jersey. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the socioeconomic impact of COVID-19 as well as assess for receptiveness towards COVID-19 vaccination amongst various ethnic groups. Methods. This was a prospective cohort study consisting of patients who had COVID-19 in the months of March and April of 2020. This was a single institutional study conducted at St. Joseph's Hospital in Paterson, NJ from March to April of 2021. Patients included were either male or female aged 18 years or older. Patients were contacted by telephone to participate to completed the survey. Chi-square testing and multivariable logistic regression analysis were utilized for statistical analysis. Results. Of the 170 patients enrolled in the study, the most common ethnicity was Hispanic (79/170 [46.47%]), followed by African American (46/170 [27.05%]). 83 patients were male (83/170 [48.82%]). Caucasians were the most willing to receive a COVID-19 vaccine (28/30 [93.3%]), followed by Asians (13/14 [92.8%]), Hispanics (63/78 [80.7%]) and African Americans (29/46 [63.0%]). Hispanics had the highest rate of job loss (31/79 [39.24%]), followed by African Americans (16/46 [34.7%]). Hispanics were found to be in the most financial distress (31/79 [39.2%]), followed by African Americans (17/46 [36.9%]). Hispanics and African Americans were more likely to refuse COVID-19 vaccination (p: 0.02). Hispanics were more likely to lose their jobs compared to Caucasians (odds ratio,4.456;95% CI, 1.387 to 14.312;p: 0.0121). African Americans were also more likely to lose their jobs when compared to Caucasians (odds ratio, 4.465;95% CI, 1.266 to 15.747;p: 0.0200). Conclusion. Hispanics reported the most financial distress and with nearly 40% losing their jobs, the highest in our study group. 37% of African Americans experienced job loss and financial distress following their diagnosis with COVID-19. Only 63% of African Americans and 80.7% of Hispanics were willing to get vaccinated, mostly due to lack of trust in the vaccine. Statistical analysis showed Hispanics and African Americans were more likely to lose their jobs and refuse COVID-19 vaccination following diagnosis with COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
TOPIC: Chest Infections TYPE: Original Investigations PURPOSE: Many patients diagnosed with COVID-19 develop a post-viral syndrome commonly known as Long COVID-19. Long COVID is described as when a patient experiences persistent symptoms for more than 12 weeks after their initial infection. Recent studies have shown that patients may experience long covid for as many as 6 months after initial infection. We conducted a follow up study on patients diagnosed with COVID-19 one year ago at one of the worst affected tertiary hospitals in the state of New Jersey. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study consisting of patients with a confirmed positive COVID-19 test by PCR in the months of March and April of 2020 in the St. Joseph’s University Hospital network. Individuals who were either admitted to the hospital or tested positive in the outpatient setting with Sars- CoV2 were included in the study. Patients under 18 years of age or those with cognitive impairment or inability to complete the survey were excluded. Informed consent was taken over the telephone. The participants completed a comprehensive questionnaire including sociodemographic information and a review of systems to evaluate for persistent symptoms they have experienced over the past year directly due to COVID-19. All patient identifying information was de-identified in compliance with HIPAA rules and regulations. RESULTS: There were 91 inpatients ( 91/173 [52.6%]) and 82 outpatients (82/173 [47.4%]) with a mean age of 51.5. The most common ethnicities were Hispanic (80/173 [46.24%]) African American (48/173 [27.74%]), Caucasian (32/173 [18.49%]) and the most common comorbidities were hypertension (68/173 [39.5%]), obesity (45/173 [26.9%]) and diabetes (33/173 [19.1%]). There were 91 inpatients ( 91/173 [52.6%]) and 82 outpatients (82/173 [47.4%]), of which 85 were male (85/173 [49.42%]). Overall 83 patients (47.9%) still experienced at least one persistent symptom after initial infection. The most commonly reported symptoms were shortness of breath (44/173 [25.4%]), fatigue (43/173 [21%]), anxiety (36/173 [20.8%]), difficulty focusing/brain fog (32/173 [18.5%]), body aches (32/173 [18.5%]), headaches (29/173 [16.8%]), memory loss (25/173 [14.5%]), cough (23/173 [13.3%]), depression (22/173 [12.7%]), chest pain (19/173 [11%]), palpitations (15/173 [8.7%]), lightheadedness (15/173 [8.7%]), runny nose (12/173 [6.9%]) and loss of taste (11/173 [6.4%]). CONCLUSIONS: In our patient population nearly half of all patients (47.9%) still experienced at least one symptom 12 months after their initial infection. In both patient populations the most common persistent symptoms were shortness of breath, fatigue, anxiety and difficulty focusing/brain fog. The risk factors and pathophysiology of long covid remain unknown, highlighting the importance of further research into the topics. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Nearly half of our patient population still experienced at least one symptom from their COVID-19 infection after one year. This further suggests that infection with COVID-19 may carry a risk of developing long term and possibly permanent sequelae from the virus. As more patients continue to be infected with COVID-19 and subsequently develop long covid, a public health crisis may be looming in the future. This highlights the need for continued public education on COVID-19 as well as the critical importance of widespread vaccination across the world to end the pandemic. DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Polina Aron, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Hamdallah Ashkar, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Sohail Chaudhry, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Arslan Chaudhry, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Beenish Faheem, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Alisa Farokhian, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by George Horani, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Humberto Jimenez, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Christina Kmiecik, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Patrick Michael, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Christopher Millet, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Spandana Narvaneni, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Sherif Roman, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Fady Shafeek, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Yezin Shamoon, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Jin Suh, source=Web Response