Characteristics of post-covid syndrome in elderly patients with rheumatic diseases

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To compare the frequency of occurrence of various symptoms of post-covid syndrome (PCS) in groups of patients with rheumatic diseases (RD) of the elderly to young. Material(s) and Method(s) The study involved 89 patients with RD who underwent COVID-19, verified by RT-PCR for SARS-CoV- 2 RNA, for the period from 05/15/2020 to 12/01/2021. Participants in the study, after talking with the research physician, completed questionnaires on past COVID-19 and post-COVID syndrome (PCS). The information was supplemented with data from discharge records after inpatient treatment for COVID-19. Result(s) The data obtained were differentiated depending on the age of the participants: <60 years (group 1), N = 69 and >=60 years (group 2), N = 20. Both groups were dominated by women (82.6% and 85%). The average age in group 1 was 41.9 +/- 11.6 years, in group 2 -68.5 +/- 5.1 years. 33 (47.8%) patients in group 1 and 10 (50%) in group 2 noted the development of PCS. In group 1, the following symptoms of PCS prevailed memory impairment -in 17 (51.5%) patients, fatigue, weakness -in 14 (42.4%), problems with concentration -in 14 (42.4%), arthralgia -in 12 (36.4%) %, shortness of breath during physical exertion -in 11 (33.3%), drowsiness -in 10 (30.3%), irritability -in 9 (27.3%). In group 2, the most common memory impairment -in 8 (80%) patients, weakness, fatigue -in 7 (70%), arthralgia -in 7 (70%), problems with concentration -in 6 (60%), weight loss -in 5 (50%), irritability -in 5 (50%), sleep disturbance -in 5 (50%). The frequency of occurrence of different manifestations of PCS did not differ significantly between the groups. On average (median), each patient in group 1 noted 4 [2;8], group 2 -10 [8.25;12.5] symptoms of PCS at the same time, but the differences did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion(s) The frequency of occurrence of various clinical manifestations of PCS did not have statistically significant differences between the study groups. In a comparative assessment, the group of elderly patients noted a greater number of symptoms of PCS at the same time.