Insights into the Risk Factors and Outcomes of Post-COVID-19 Syndrome—Results from a Retrospective, Cross-Sectional Study in Romania
Post-Coronavirus Disease 2019 (post-COVID-19) syndrome represents a cluster of persistent symptoms following Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection that can severely affect quality of life. The pathogenic mechanisms and epidemiology in different regions are still unde...
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MDPI AG
2024-11-01
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| author | Ioana Bejan Corneliu Petru Popescu Simona Maria Ruta |
| author_facet | Ioana Bejan Corneliu Petru Popescu Simona Maria Ruta |
| author_sort | Ioana Bejan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Post-Coronavirus Disease 2019 (post-COVID-19) syndrome represents a cluster of persistent symptoms following Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection that can severely affect quality of life. The pathogenic mechanisms and epidemiology in different regions are still under evaluation. To assess the outcomes of post-COVID-19 syndrome, we performed a questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study in previously infected individuals. Out of 549 respondents, (male:female ratio: 0.32), 29.5% had persistent symptoms at 3 months, 23.5% had persistent symptoms at 6 months, and 18.3% had persistent symptoms at 12 months after the initial infection. The most common symptoms included fatigue (8.7%), sleep disturbances (7.1%), and cognitive impairment (6.4%). The risk of developing post-COVID-19 syndrome increased for those with more symptoms in the acute phase (OR 4.24, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and those experiencing reinfections (OR 2.405, <i>p</i> < 0.001), while SARS-CoV-2 vaccination halved the risk (OR = 0.489, <i>p</i> = 0.004). Individuals with post-COVID-19 syndrome had a 5.7-fold higher risk of being diagnosed with a new chronic condition, with 44% reporting cardiovascular disease, and a 6.8-fold higher likelihood of needing medical care or leave. Affected individuals reported significant impairments in mobility, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression, with 20.7% needing to adjust their work schedules. Overall, patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome require ongoing monitoring and rehabilitation, and further socio-economic impact studies are needed. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e3c7abbe5b5f478eaf50ac44774f7c66 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Life |
| spelling | doaj-art-e3c7abbe5b5f478eaf50ac44774f7c662025-08-20T02:48:05ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292024-11-011411151910.3390/life14111519Insights into the Risk Factors and Outcomes of Post-COVID-19 Syndrome—Results from a Retrospective, Cross-Sectional Study in RomaniaIoana Bejan0Corneliu Petru Popescu1Simona Maria Ruta2Faculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020956 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020956 Bucharest, RomaniaFaculty of Medicine, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020956 Bucharest, RomaniaPost-Coronavirus Disease 2019 (post-COVID-19) syndrome represents a cluster of persistent symptoms following Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection that can severely affect quality of life. The pathogenic mechanisms and epidemiology in different regions are still under evaluation. To assess the outcomes of post-COVID-19 syndrome, we performed a questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study in previously infected individuals. Out of 549 respondents, (male:female ratio: 0.32), 29.5% had persistent symptoms at 3 months, 23.5% had persistent symptoms at 6 months, and 18.3% had persistent symptoms at 12 months after the initial infection. The most common symptoms included fatigue (8.7%), sleep disturbances (7.1%), and cognitive impairment (6.4%). The risk of developing post-COVID-19 syndrome increased for those with more symptoms in the acute phase (OR 4.24, <i>p</i> < 0.001) and those experiencing reinfections (OR 2.405, <i>p</i> < 0.001), while SARS-CoV-2 vaccination halved the risk (OR = 0.489, <i>p</i> = 0.004). Individuals with post-COVID-19 syndrome had a 5.7-fold higher risk of being diagnosed with a new chronic condition, with 44% reporting cardiovascular disease, and a 6.8-fold higher likelihood of needing medical care or leave. Affected individuals reported significant impairments in mobility, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression, with 20.7% needing to adjust their work schedules. Overall, patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome require ongoing monitoring and rehabilitation, and further socio-economic impact studies are needed.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/14/11/1519post-COVID-19 syndromelong COVIDCOVID-19 sequelaeSARS-CoV-2 vaccination |
| spellingShingle | Ioana Bejan Corneliu Petru Popescu Simona Maria Ruta Insights into the Risk Factors and Outcomes of Post-COVID-19 Syndrome—Results from a Retrospective, Cross-Sectional Study in Romania Life post-COVID-19 syndrome long COVID COVID-19 sequelae SARS-CoV-2 vaccination |
| title | Insights into the Risk Factors and Outcomes of Post-COVID-19 Syndrome—Results from a Retrospective, Cross-Sectional Study in Romania |
| title_full | Insights into the Risk Factors and Outcomes of Post-COVID-19 Syndrome—Results from a Retrospective, Cross-Sectional Study in Romania |
| title_fullStr | Insights into the Risk Factors and Outcomes of Post-COVID-19 Syndrome—Results from a Retrospective, Cross-Sectional Study in Romania |
| title_full_unstemmed | Insights into the Risk Factors and Outcomes of Post-COVID-19 Syndrome—Results from a Retrospective, Cross-Sectional Study in Romania |
| title_short | Insights into the Risk Factors and Outcomes of Post-COVID-19 Syndrome—Results from a Retrospective, Cross-Sectional Study in Romania |
| title_sort | insights into the risk factors and outcomes of post covid 19 syndrome results from a retrospective cross sectional study in romania |
| topic | post-COVID-19 syndrome long COVID COVID-19 sequelae SARS-CoV-2 vaccination |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/14/11/1519 |
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