Incidence and risk factors for persistent symptoms in adults previously hospitalised for COVID-19

Munblit, D. et al. (2021) Incidence and risk factors for persistent symptoms in adults previously hospitalised for COVID-19. Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 51(9), pp. 1107-1120. (doi: 10.1111/cea.13997) (PMID:34351016)

Abstract

Background: The long-term sequalae of COVID-19 remain poorly characterised. We assessed persistent symptoms in previously hospitalised patients with COVID-19 and assessed potential risk factors. Methods: Data were collected from patients discharged from 4 hospitals in Moscow, Russia between April 8 and July 10, 2020. Participants were interviewed via telephone using an ISARIC Long-term Follow-up Study questionnaire. Results: 2,649 of 4755 (56%) discharged patients were successfully evaluated, at median 218 (IQR 200, 236) days post-discharge. COVID-19 diagnosis was clinical in 1291 and molecular in 1358. Most cases were mild, but 902 (34%) required supplemental oxygen and 68 (2.6%) needed ventilatory support. Median age was 56 years (IQR 46, 66) and 1,353 (51.1%) were women. Persistent symptoms were reported by 1247 (47.1%) participants, with fatigue (21.2%), shortness of breath (14.5%) and forgetfulness (9.1%) the most common symptoms and chronic fatigue (25%) and respiratory (17.2%) the most common symptom categories. Female sex was associated with any persistent symptom category OR 1.83 (95% CI 1.55 to 2.17) with association being strongest for dermatological (3.26, 2.36 to 4.57) symptoms. Asthma and chronic pulmonary disease were not associated with persistent symptoms overall, but asthma was associated with neurological (1.95, 1.25 to 2.98) and mood and behavioural changes (2.02, 1.24 to 3.18), and chronic pulmonary disease was associated with chronic fatigue (1.68, 1.21 to 2.32). Conclusions: Almost half of adults admitted to hospital due to COVID-19 reported persistent symptoms 6 to 8 months after discharge. Fatigue and respiratory symptoms were most common, and female sex was associated with persistent symptoms.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Scott, Dr Janet
• Authors: Munblit, D., Bobkova, P., Spiridonova, E., Shikhaleva, A., Gamirova, A., Nekliudov, N., Bugaeva, P., Andreeva, M., DunnGalvin, A., Comberiati, P., Apfelbacher, C., Genuneit, J., Kapustina, V., Guekht, A., Fomin, V., Svistunov, A., Timashev, P., Subbot, V., Royuk, V., Drake, T., Hanson, S., Merson, L., Carson, G., Horby, P., Sigfrid, L., Scott, J. T., Semple, M., Warner, J., Vos, T., Olliaro, P., Glybochko, P., Butnaru, D., and StopCOVID Research Team, S.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Virus Research
• Journal Name: Clinical and Experimental Allergy
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0954-7894
• ISSN (Online): 1365-2222
• Published Online: 05 August 2021
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 John Wiley and Sons Ltd
• First Published: First published in Clinical and Experimental Allergy 51(9): 1107-1120
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy