Predictive factors for Long COVID in adults previously hospitalized for COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Long COVID was defined by the persistence or development of symptoms beyond 4 weeks from the onset of the disease. The aim of our study is to describe the prevalence of Long COVID in survivors after discharge and to determine predictive factors for Long COVID. Method(s) It was a retrospective study of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in pneumology department D of Abderahman Mami hospital. We divided patients in 2 groups G1 94 patients with Long COVID and G2 43 asymptomatic patients after discharge. Result(s) The prevalence of Long COVID was 68%. Female sex was associated with persistent symptom (53.2% vs 30.2%, p=0.01). The risk of persistent symptoms was higher in patients with moderate or severe obesity (51.6% vs 33%;p=0.04). Comorbidities were more frequent in G1 (73% G1 vs 65%, p=0.3). Asthma and Obstructive Sleep Apnea were associated with persistent symptoms (73% vs 65%, p=0.03 and 8% vs 0%, p=0.04, respectively). Patients in G1 had a higher frequency of fatigue than those in G2 (80% vs 58%, p=0.005). Most cases were mild, but 17% of patients required ventilatory support. Long COVID showed a strong correlation with Length of stay (r2= 0.18, p=0.03). The most common persistent symptoms reported were fatigue (75.8%), shortness of breath (70.8%) and join pain (38.5%). Conclusion(s) We have observed that long COVID affected especially women and patients with respiratory comorbidities and those requiring prolonged hospital stay.