Examination of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection shows 8-month persistent symptoms

Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) infection is caused by severe respiratory coronavirus syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2). People with an infection leading to hospitalization and even death may not have symptoms, mild symptoms, or severe illness.

Reported reports stated that while recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infectious symptoms such as fever and cold, some people with disease such as fatigue and pain had persistent symptoms long after the period of infectious disease. These ‘long’ patients were said to be experiencing something called “ship-COVID.” Studies on these post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) infection are currently limited, but the early studies have been able to establish the condition beyond reported reports and have been successful. in reflecting the geographical and sociodemographic diversity of PASC.

However, these early studies have many limitations, including small study groups and short reviews. Also, the pathogenesis of PASC is not yet clear, although some studies link them to biological anomalies. As SARS-CoV-2 continues to affect millions of people worldwide, the impact of PASC on public health and the need to develop effective methods need further study to prevent or treat the condition.

Studying the frequency of PASC in a rapidly established cohort of COVID-19 patients

Researchers from the USA recently studied the incidence of PASC in a group of reputable patients to gain insights into the period after SARS-CoV-2 infectious disease. The search is posted online to the preprint server medRxiv *.

From April 21 to December 31, 2020, the researchers assembled a group of volunteers with SNA-CoV-2 RNA-positivity, who were ≥2 weeks past the onset of their COVID-19 symptoms, and those who were able to travel to San Francisco, where the study was conducted. For asymptomatic patients, the selected volunteers were ≥2 weeks past their first test for SARS-CoV-2.

Participants were either identified on medical records based on medical centers and were contacted or responded to advertisements. One hundred and seventy-nine adults were enrolled in the study. At 4-month intervals, participants were asked about new or worsening physical symptoms compared to the pre-COVID-19 period, mental health signs, and overall quality of life. The researchers described 4 periods – 1. Severe illness – 0-3 weeks, 2. Early recovery – 3-10 weeks, 3. Late recovery 1 – 12-20 weeks, and 4. Re- late recovery 2 – 28-36 weeks. Blood and oral samples of the patients were collected at each visit.

Patients experienced physical issues and a few mental health issues in the post-acute phase

During SARS-CoV-2 infection, 10 patients were asymptomatic, 125 patients were symptomatic but not hard enough to be hospitalized, and 44 patients were symptomatic and hospitalized. During the starvation phase, muscle weakness, myalgia, fever, cough, and anosmia / dysgeusia were the most common symptoms. In the postmenopausal phase, the most commonly reported symptoms were shortness of breath, muscle weakness, congestion issues, sleep disturbance, headaches, and anosmia / dysgeusia. Some participants experienced a number of symptoms but these, including anxiety, depressive symptoms, post-traumatic stress, difficulties in performing daily activities. Biospecimens from participants were collected at approximately 600 visits.

“We received a great deal of interest from the residents of the affected community to take part, and among those who were willing to go in, we found many who reported persistent physical symptoms over 8 months after the start of COVID-19. ”

Large peers with essential character to better understand recovery stage events

As more and more attention turns to a better understanding of the recovery rate after the SARS-CoV-2 infectious disease, large study peers with a good marker will help gain some clarity. In this study group, many participants enrolled in the post-acute phase of the disease had persistent physical symptoms during the 8 months after the onset of COVID-19, which affected overall health.

The researchers conclude, “we have established a group of partners enrolled in the postmenopausal phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We found great interest among residents of the affected community to participate, and among those who volunteered to register, we found many who reported persistent physical symptoms through 8 months after the onset of COVID- 19. The convenience nature of our sampling – like many other superior peers of PASC – prevents the estimation of the population frequency of these persistent symptoms, but allows analysis of all the symptoms that are present. set when they occur. Importantly, the presence of both participants without symptoms and insufficient biological samples allows analytical work to investigate the pathogenesis of PASC, which we expect to emerge as the field begins. exploring ways to inform prevention and treatment. ”

* Important message

medRxiv publish preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be seen as final, guiding health-related clinical practice / behavior, or be treated as information established.