Predictors of adverse clinical outcomes of recovered COVID-19 patients from a tertiary care hospital, Gujarat, India

ABSTRACT

Background: SARS-CoV 2 virus infection present as varying degree of severity with many post viral complications.Although initial research was focused on the epidemiology, risk factors, clinical syndrome and treatment options;sufficient data is needed on sequelae of the patients who got discharged. The present study aimed to identify long term outcomes of COVID 19 recovered patients to safeguard their life in future. Methods: The present longitudinal study included all 443 COVID 19 recovered patients who were admitted during the second wave at our tertiary care hospital from 1stApril to 25th May, 2021 and interviewed telephonically with series of questionnaire. Baseline demographic profile, comorbidities, clinical characteristics and investigatory findings were obtained from the hospital records and analysed for the long term symptoms and outcomes. Results: Over a mean follow up period of 152 days, around 6% of the patients who recovered after acute COVID 19 infection died after the discharge. More than two third of patients were male. Diabetes and hypertension were most common comorbidities among the study population. Most common persistent symptoms was fatigue among the recovered population at follow up. Multivariate logistic regression analysis against the odds of post discharge mortality revealed patients receiving advanced respiratory support (AOR 5.2, 95% CI 1.8-15.1) and ICU stay during the hospitalisation (AOR 6.67, 95% CI 1.18-37.7) were predictors of post discharge mortality. Conclusion: Fatigue was the most common symptoms observed after 5 months of discharge from acute COVID 19 infection. Overall post discharge mortality was 6% and admission in ICU and use of advanced respiratory support were associated mortality among recovered patients.