ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Post-COVID-19 syndrome appears to be a multi-organ illness with a broad spectrum of manifestations, occurring after even mild acute illness. Limited data currently available has suggested that vitamin D deficiency may play a role in COVID-19 cases. However, to our knowledge, no study has examined the frequency of vitamin D deficiency in post-COVID-19 cases and its effect on the symptom severity. The aim of this study is to both screen the frequency of vitamin D deficiency in post-COVID-19 syndrome patients and to study its relation to persistent symptoms. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional, single-center study was conducted involving all cases attending post-COVID-19 follow-up clinic from November 2020 to May 2021. Complete history, clinical examination, and laboratory analysis [kidney functions, serum calcium, C-reactive protein, serum ferritin, Serum 25-(OH) vitamin D] was done as well as HRCT chest. RESULTS: The study included 219 post-COVID-19 cases, 84% had deficient vitamin D levels (< 20 ng/dL); 11.4% had insufficient level (20-30 ng/dL) and only 4.9 % reported normal level. There was no link between levels of vitamin D with either the acute or post-COVID-19 symptoms in the studied groups. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among the study population, no association was observed between the levels of vitamin D and post-COVID-19 symptoms. It appears that post-COVID-19 syndrome pathophysiology involves a more complex interaction with the immune system. Dedicated clinical trials are advised to better study vitamin D levels and the related disease severity in COVID-19 patients.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Vitamin D Deficiency , COVID-19/complications , COVID-19/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Prevalence , SARS-CoV-2 , Vitamin D , Vitamins , Post-Acute COVID-19 SyndromeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Long COVID-19 syndrome refers to the persistence of symptoms for more than 12 weeks after the start of acute symptoms. The pathophysiology of this syndrome is not yet clear.OBJECTIVE: To assess long COVID-19 symptoms in hospitalised and non-hospitalised patients.METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was used. The study included 262 patients who were divided into two groups based on their hospital admission history: 167 (63.7%) were not hospitalised, while 95 (36.3%) were hospitalised.RESULTS: Long-COVID was reported in 157 out of 262 patients (59.9%), and was significantly more frequent in non-hospitalised patients (68.3% vs. 45.3%; P < 0.001). During the acute phase, hospitalised patients had more respiratory symptoms (95.9% vs. 85.6%), while non-hospitalised patients had more neuropsychiatric symptoms (84.4% vs. 69.5%; P < 0.05). Constitutional and neuropsychiatric symptoms were the most frequently reported persistent symptoms in both groups, but all persistent symptoms were more frequent in the non-hospitalised group (P < 0.005).CONCLUSION: Long COVID-19 symptoms affect both hospitalised and non-hospitalised patients. Neuropsychiatric manifestations were the most common persistent COVID-19 symptoms. Rehabilitation and psychotherapy could be advised for all recovered COVID-19 patients. Non-hospitalised COVID-19 patients should be counselled to contact healthcare providers whenever needed.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , COVID-19/complications , COVID-19/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Hospitalization , Humans , Retrospective Studies , Post-Acute COVID-19 SyndromeABSTRACT
Adenosine Deaminase (ADA) Activity in pathologic effusions was measured. The effusions were pleural (49 cases) peritoneal (38 cases) and pericardial (3 cases). The patients were divided into 6 groups: Group I included 10 cases with tuberculosis, group II included 6 cases with pleural effusions, group III included 46 cases of malignancy, group IV included 15 cases of transudates, group V included 4 miscellaneous cases and group VI included 8 cases of unknown diagnosis. Mean (ADA) activity was 102 +/- 37 U/L in Group I, 45 +/- 46 U/L in Group II, 27 +/- 30 U/L in Group III, 12 +/- 11 in Group IV, 36 +/- 32 in Group V and 38 +/- 42 in Group VI. Specificity and sensitivity for tuberculosis where a value > 41 U/L is taken is 85% and 100% respectively. Assessment of ADA in pathologic effusions is helpful in the diagnosis of tuberculosis but it does not replace the pleural or peritoneal biopsy.
