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INTRODUCTION: Post-COVID olfactory dysfunction continues to be studied due to the controversy of the mechanisms involved. The aim was to investigate the olfactory dysfunctions in association with other post-COVID symptoms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational, descriptive and single-center study. The patients had confirmed mild COVID-19 and subjective olfactory dysfunction of more than a month of evolution, which was assessed by Sniffin' Sticks Olfactory Test. RESULTS: A total of 86 patients participated. The mean age was 37.2 years (SD 9.82). 70.9% reported parosmia and 46.5% symptoms of brain fog. A pathological test result was obtained in 72.1% of the participants. The most failed pen was 11 (apple) in 76.7%. Anosmia of pen 15 (anise) was reported more frequently in 24.4% and cacosmia of pen 9 (garlic) in 27.9%. We observed a significant association between patients who reported parosmias and brain fog (RR 2.18; p=0.018), also between parosmia and phantosmia (RR 6.042; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: There is some pathological selectivity for certain test pens, a higher prevalence of cognitive symptoms and many patients with combined parosmia and brain fog.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Olfaction Disorders , Adult , Humans , COVID-19/complications , Olfaction Disorders/diagnosis , Olfaction Disorders/epidemiology , Olfaction Disorders/etiology , Prevalence , SmellABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To explore the experiences of people with persistent COVID in the Basque Country more than a year after the start of the pandemic, in order to understand the health and social impact it has, as well as to detect possible areas for improvement in the care that these people receive in order to develop health programms to support their recovery. METHOD: Qualitative phenomenological study. In-depth interviews will be carried out as a data collection technique until saturation of the discourse. Patients of legal age who present persistent COVID symptomatology with an evolution time of more than 12 weeks were included. Contact with the patients was made through the Basque Long COVID Collective. The interviews were carried out and recorded through the ZOOM application. After the literal transcription of the interviews, the thematic analysis will be carried out, identifying the first units of meaning and assigning codes that will later be grouped into the different categories. RESULTS: 20 patients participated. A total of three main categories emerged from the analysis of the discourses: 1) affecting/impacting patients' quality of life; 2) identifying improvements in healthcare; and 3) comforting aspects. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the significant impact on the quality of life suffered by these people. It is necessary to design health policies that favour a personalised, comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to these patients.
ABSTRACT
SARS-CoV-2 is currently causing a persistent COVID-19 pandemic, which poses a risk of causing long-term cardiovascular sequels in the population. The viral mechanism of cell infection through the angiotensin 2 converter enzyme receptor and the limited antiviral innate immune response are the suspected causes for a more frequent cardiovascular damage in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Knowledge of the appearance during acute infection of other cardiac conditions beyond the classical myocarditis and pericarditis, the long-term cardiac manifestations (persistent COVID-19), and the increased incidence of myocarditis and pericarditis after vaccination is of special interest in order to offer our patients best practices based on current scientific evidence.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Myocarditis , Pericarditis , Humans , SARS-CoV-2 , Pandemics , Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 , Myocarditis/diagnosis , Myocarditis/epidemiology , Myocarditis/etiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Follow-up after hospital discharge of SARS-CoV-2 survivors represents a huge burden on the healthcare system. We attempt to assess the utility of symptoms and health-related quality of life questionnaire (SF-12) to identify SARS CoV2 pulmonary sequelae. METHODS: Prospective, non-interventional follow-up study. A cardiopulmonary exercise test, functional respiratory test (PFT), SF12 questionnaire were performed after hospitalization at six months after the first positive PCR smear. RESULTS: 41 patients were included, female (39%), mean age 57.3±13.7 years. 70% persisted with symptoms. 46% presented a maximum oxygen consumption below 80% of predicted. SF-12 physical domain score was significantly reduced in patients with altered PFT (32.7 vs. 45.9; p<0.001) and obtained the best sensitivity and specificity to identify PFT alterations (AUC 0.862, Sensitivity 85.7%, Specificity 81.5%). CONCLUSIONS: SF-12 questionnaire shows high sensitivity and specificity to detect SARS CoV2 survivors with pulmonary function alterations.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Adult , Aged , COVID-19/diagnosis , COVID-19 Testing , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Quality of Life , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Resumen La pandemia provocada por el coronavirus del síndrome respiratorio agudo grave de tipo 2 (SARS-CoV-2) ha sido la protagonista del último año. Esta pandemia ha provocado gran mortalidad en todo el planeta. En este artículo revisamos los aspectos más destacados de la enfermedad provocada por el coronavirus de 2019 (COVID-19) para el cardiólogo clínico, como la afectación cardiovascular, la COVID persistente, el tratamiento con fármacos bloqueadores del sistema renina-angiotensina, la trombosis, el tratamiento antitrombótico, las estatinas y su papel antiinflamatorio en la infección y las vacunas para conseguir la inmunidad de la población. Durante este año la telemedicina ha ayudado a atender a los pacientes de manera remota, pero también ha supuesto un cambio en la práctica clínica. El cardiólogo clínico ha presenciado grandes avances científicos en el conocimiento de la COVID-19 y ha tenido que adaptarse a esta nueva situación, modificando su práctica clínica. Por tanto, abordamos el tema COVID y corazón en esta selección de lo mejor de 2021 en cardiología clínica y COVID. The pandemic caused by the SARS-Cov-2 coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome, coronavirus type 2) has been the protagonist last year. This pandemic has caused great mortality throughout the planet. In this article we review the highlights of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) for the clinical cardiologist, such as cardiovascular disease, long-COVID, treatment with renin-angiotensin system blocking drugs, thrombosis, the antithrombotic therapy, statins and their anti-inflammatory role in infection, and vaccines to achieve the immunity of the population. During this year, telemedicine has helped doctors to remotely attend their patients, but it has also meant a change in clinical practices. clinical cardiologists have seen great scientific advances in the knowledge of COVID-19 and have had to adapt to this new situation, modifying their clinical practice. We address these aspects in this selection of the best topics of 2021 in clinical cardiology and COVID.
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Clinical sequelae of a disease as widespread as COVID-19 can be of great importance for primary care due to their prevalence and the morbidity they entail. The definition of long COVID and the establishment of its temporality are various, but some authors consider possible that this syndrome is actually myalgic encephalomyelitis. Similarities are observed when comparing the International Consensus Criteria for the diagnosis of myalgic encephalomyelitis with the symptoms described for long COVID. Blood tests, pulse oximetry, chest radiography, and thoracic ultrasound are recommended in patients with persistent symptoms after acute infection. Management in both conditions consists of treating the main symptoms. The possibility that COVID-19 can lead to a chronic condition such as myalgic encephalomyelitis makes long-term follow-up of patients who have suffered from this infection essential.