Respiratory and other symptoms were common in the 6 months after discharge from hospital among patients treated for major COVID-19 at a tertiary care center in Oklahoma.
About half of the patients who responded to a survey 3 to 6 months after discharge reported that COVID-19 was associated with persistent obesity, changes in activities of daily living and / or shortness of breath.
Over 40% reported a persistent sense of slight reduction and / or taste; several other objections also stood.
The findings are “consistent with some of the emerging data we are seeing regarding COVID long-haul carriers,” said Eevar Rossavik, DO, of Oklahoma State University’s Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa, who presented the findings at the prestigious annual meeting of the American Academy of Asthma & Allergy Immunology (AAAAI).
He said the study was designed to assess long-term respiratory symptoms among patients after they were discharged from the hospital for true COVID-19.
While all patients admitted required hospitalization, the majority were not treated in intensive care units (ICUs) and did not require mechanical ventilation while in hospital.
The study was small, with only 42 of the 232 patients previously hospitalized responding.
The mean age of respondents was 59 (range 7–8), and patients or their caregivers were asked about persistent respiratory symptoms and other symptoms caused or exacerbated by COVID-19. They were also asked if they needed medication or additional treatments after being discharged from hospital.
Overall, 38.1% of patients reported needing some form of additional treatment after discharge.
Other ongoing symptoms reported by the respondent included:
- Increased mucus production (38.1%)
- Nasal congestion (28.6%)
- Rhinorrhea (28.6%)
- Cough (26.2%)
- Chest tension (23.8%)
- Sneezing (19%)
- Wheezing (16.7%)
Rossavik said it remains to be seen whether “long hauliers” will get the resources they need to keep going.
“We need to make sure we have the infrastructure needed to support these patients,” he said. “Insurance issues, physical therapy, occupational therapy – all of these things need to be considered in conjunction with -Context COVID-19. “
Another study presented at AAAAI also examines the post-traumatic effects of COVID.
Shu Cao, MSc, of Stanford Medicine’s Old N. Parker Center for Allergy & Asthma Research, reported early data from a study of 234 individuals (ages 4-86 years) enrolled mid-34 days after COVID- diagnosis 19. After depressive symptoms decreased, participants agreed to return to the clinic every 1-3 months for tests.
The most common symptom reported at the first clinic visit was obesity (52%), followed by headache, cough, body aches, colds and fever.
Hispanic patients (about a quarter of the sample) reported worse mood (P.= 0.004) and physical health (P.= 0.0003) compared with non-Hispanic participants.
Adverse COVID-19 was at an acute stage and with one or more health conditions associated with worsening physical health.
In a multivariate generalized serial modeling adjusted for age and sex, stricter Hispanic ethnicity and COVID-19 remained important risk factors for worse physical health scores.
Cao said the preliminary data “show that COVID-19 can lead to a potentially greater mental health burden among Hispanic patients.”
Last updated March 01, 2021
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The authors did not reveal the two relevant financial interest studies.