RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Long-term consequences of COVID-19 vary widely, representing a growing global health challenge. The aim of this report was to define the presence of symptoms in post-acute-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) patients and to assess the frequency, associated factors, and the spectrum of persistent symptoms. METHODS: In this longitudinal study, 487 adults with a previously diagnosed "Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2" (SARS-CoV-2) who admitted to COVID-19 follow-up outpatient clinic between December 1, 2020 and November 31, 2021 were interviewed face-to-face three times. Data was collected on patient demographics, comorbidities, and symptoms. A questionnaire of 160 questions was asked and organized into the following: identification and consent, socio-demographic/epidemiological characteristics, previous medical history, diagnosis and clinical presentation of acute COVID-19, as well as systematic symptoms. Data were evaluated using univariate comparisons and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: The most prevalent symptoms among all PCS patients during their initial visit were dyspnea, weakness, forgetfulness, fatigue, and arthralgia respectively. The most common symptoms in patients with 6 months or more time from discharge to follow-up at the first and second visits, appear to be persistent. While incidence rates decreased by the third visit, the five most common symptoms remained the same. The possibility of weakness and arthralgia was found to be higher in non-hospitalized patients. Females were associated with the most common persistent symptoms and the strongest association was with arthralgia. CONCLUSION: A large number of COVID-19 survivors had continuing symptoms at the first year of post-COVID-19-infection. Neither the presence of comorbidities of the patient nor smoking status were associated with the severity of PCS symptoms. A better understanding of the mechanisms, predisposing factors and evaluation require a multidisciplinary team approach.
RESUMO
PURPOSE: The COVID-19 pandemic represents a great global concern and its associated morbidities. The goal of this study was to determine the incidence of newly diagnosed hyperglycemia and diabetes among COVID-19 survivors and to evaluate whether obesity and lipid profile have an effect on this group using the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP). METHODS: In the retrospective study, 511 adults with a previously diagnosed "Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2" who admitted to COVID-19 follow-up outpatient clinic were evaluated. Data was collected on patient demographics, comorbidities, and some laboratory results. Logistic regression was used to estimate associated factors. RESULTS: Newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was defined in 17 patients (3.32%), hyperglycemia in 86 patients (16.82%). The results of analysis were examined, gender, age, BMI and triglyceride variables were found to be significant risk factors together. Fasting blood glucose values of 22 out of 86 patients with hyperglycemia returned to normal after six months of follow-up. Undiagnosed-preexisting DM in 4 out of 17 patients diagnosed with T2DM at their first visit and in 7 out of 8 hyperglycemia patients diagnosed with T2DM at the end of six-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: COVID-19, may directly/indirectly, predispose to hyperglycemia. Obesity and hyperlipidemia are risk factors for newly diagnosed T2DM/hyperglycemia in post-COVID-19 syndrome patients. Since that some metabolic variables were found to be significantly higher in the group with high AIP values, we suggest that AIP might be used as a reference to predict the development of obesity and T2DM.
