Clinical features, therapeutic outcomes and recovery period of long COVID.

To characterize the clinical features of long COVID, 286 patients who received care in our outpatient clinic for long COVID from May 2021 through December 2021 were surveyed. The recovery periods of each symptom and the key factors contributing to early recovery were statistically analysed. The median age of the patients was 35.8 years, with 137 men and 149 women. The median number of symptoms was 2.8. The most frequent symptoms were respiratory manifestations (52.1%), followed by fatigue (51.4%). Respiratory symptoms, fatigue and headache/arthralgia were major complaints in the initial phase, whereas hair loss was a major complaint in the late phase, suggesting that the chief complaint of patients with long COVID may vary temporally. The best treatment outcome was observed for pulmonary symptoms, and hair loss had the worst outcome. COVID-19 severity, the number of manifestations and delay in starting treatment exerted a negative effect on the recovery period of long COVID. In addition, a smoking habit was an independent risk factor for slowing the recovery period from long COVID. This study provides insights into the clinical course of each manifestation and therapeutic options with a more certain future of long COVID to meet the unmet medical needs. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Increased Health Risk in Office Workers in the COVID-19 Era: Comparison of One-Year Incidence of Health Problems Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the incidence of health problems increases during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Using the health examination data (April 2018-March 2021) of Japanese workers aged 15 to 64 years, the 1-year incidence of five health problems (overweight, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, and liver damage) and four unhealthy habits (snacking, heavy drinking, physical inactivity, and sleep deprivation) were compared before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: The 1-year incidence of overweight, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and liver damage increased by 15% to 65% during the COVID-19 pandemic. Increased weight gain, related to decrease physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, was significantly associated with increased incidence of health problems. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic have deteriorated workers' health even without the COVID-19 infection. Lifestyle interventions should be promptly started particularly targeting workers with gained weight to avoid more serious consequences.

Personality Traits, Media Exposure, and Deterioration of Psychological Wellbeing in Japan During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

ABSTRACT: This study examined the associations among personality traits, media exposure regarding COVID-19, and deterioration of mental wellbeing among the public in Japan. We conducted a cross-sectional Web-based questionnaire survey among 8000 Japanese men and women aged 25 to 64 years. Approximately half of participants reported deterioration of mental wellbeing. Nearly 20% of participants reported "constant/excessive" exposure to media information regarding COVID-19. As compared with those with low "extraversion" and "less frequent" exposure to media information about COVID-19, those with high "extraversion" and "more frequent" media exposure reported significantly less deterioration of mental wellbeing. In addition, as compared with those with low "neuroticism" and media exposure, those with high "neuroticism" and "constant/excessive" exposure to COVID-19-related information significantly more frequently reported deterioration of mental wellbeing. Under the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19, measures for the promotion and maintenance of mental wellbeing should be implemented considering the interaction between personality traits and media exposure.

Impact of overtime working and social interaction on the deterioration of mental well-being among full-time workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: Focusing on social isolation by household composition.

OBJECTIVES: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has forced many employees to alter both their work style and lifestyle. This study aimed to examine how the combination of changes in overtime working hours and social interaction affects the full-time employees' mental well-being, focusing on the difference in household composition. METHODS: In November 2020, we conducted a cross-sectional Internet survey that included 4388 Japanese men and women aged 25-64 years, who continued the same full-time job during the pandemic. We performed a logistic regression analysis using a combination of the changes in overtime working hours and social interaction as an independent variable, and the presence/absence of deterioration of mental well-being as the dependent variable. RESULTS: Overall, 44% of participants reported the deterioration of mental well-being compared to before the outbreak. The multivariate analysis revealed that the participants coded as "increased overtime/decreased interaction" were significantly associated with the deterioration of mental well-being compared to those with "unchanged overtime/unchanged interaction" (odds ratio [OR] 2.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.59-2.89). Moreover, this association was relatively stronger among single-person households (OR 2.66, 95% CI 1.50-4.69). CONCLUSIONS: The negative combination of increasing overtime working hours and decreasing social interaction may have an impact on the deterioration of mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic, and this association was comparably strong among single-person households. In the pandemic, it is necessary to pay close attention to both overtime working hours and the presence of social interaction to address the mental well-being among employees.

Changes in health status, workload, and lifestyle after starting the COVID-19 pandemic: a web-based survey of Japanese men and women.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine the change in health status of the general public after starting the COVID-19 pandemic and its association with changes in workload and lifestyle. METHODS: A web-based survey was conducted in November 2020, about 9 months after starting the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, among 8000 Japanese men and women aged 25-64 years. Participants asked for the changes after starting the COVID-19 pandemic in health status, workload, daily life, and health behavior. Ordinal logistic regression was performed to elucidate factors associated with deterioration in general health status. RESULTS: A deterioration in general health status was reported by 17.0% of male and 19.4% of female. There has been a clear shift to sedentary life with decreasing moderate activity and increasing screen time. The multivariate analysis revealed that deteriorated work style, increased burden of housework, decreased moderate activity, increased digital media exposure, and increased body weight were significantly associated with deteriorating health status. CONCLUSION: Both men and women have experienced significant changes in workload and lifestyle since the COVID-19 pandemic started. People should be aware of the risks associated with their recent life changes and take self-care measures to prevent serious health consequences.