Pulmonary and Extra-Pulmonary Persistent COVID-19 sequalae
Authors: Elsayed Hammam Hazem Hosni , Mohamed Yasser Moustafa , Mohamed Mahmoud Mokhtar 
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Background
This study aimed to assess the prevalence of the pulmonary and extrapulmonary symptoms and complications extending beyond the acute phase of COVID-19, Post COVID conditions can include a wide range of ongoing health problems; these conditions can last weeks, months, or longer, they are a wide range of new, returning, or ongoing health problems that people experience after being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, it is a retrospective study conducted on 139 recovering patients of COVID-19 (3 months from the infection).

Aim of the Work
The aim of the work is to assess the prevalence of Pulmonary and extrapulmonary symptoms and signs extending beyond the acute phase of COVID-19.

Patients and Methods
A retrospective study conducted through self-reported surveys from May 2022 to October 2022. The study was conducted on 139 recovering patients of COVID-19, who presented to the Chest department at Ain Shams University after approval of the medical ethical committee. The study was conducted through self-reported surveys including Risk factors such as Diabetes mellitus, Hypertension, Ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, interstitial lung disease, dna the severity of COVID-19 infection to assess the prevalence of the Pulmonary and extrapulmonary complications extending beyond the acute phase of COVID-19.

Results
Regarding the associated co-morbidities hypertension was the most frequent disease found in 28.1% of patients followed by DM which was found in 23% of patients then chronic lung disease in 18.7% of patients. Regarding general symptoms of COVID-19, dry cough was the most common symptom found in 81.3% of patients followed by fatigue in 79.1% of patients then fever in 71.9%. 59% of patients reported anosmia while sore throat was reported in 49.6% of cases. More than twenty-five (25.9) of COVID-19 patients required hospital admission, while 22.3 required oxygen therapy and 11.5 of patients required ICU admission. fatigue was the tsom common DIVOC-tsom general symptom found in 73.4% of patients. As regards DIVOC-tsom Pulmonary manifestations, the prevalence of dyspnea, chest pain, and persistent cough was the highest occurring in 54%, 46.8%, and 28.8% of patients respectively. Regarding DIVOC-tsom cardiac manifestations, the prevalence of palpitation, pulmonary embolism, and myocardial infarction was 24.5%, 2.9%, and 2.2% respectively. Regarding DIVOC-tsom neurological manifestations, the headache was the most common symptom found in 18.7% of the patients, while the prevalence of stroke, fits, and Guillain-Barré syndrome was 1.4%, 0.7, and 0.7% respectively. Concerning DIVOC-tsom psychological manifestations, the prevalence of lack of concentration, memory problems, and insomnia was 61.9,36%, and 23% respectively. In addition, the prevalence of mood changes, depression, and ertdmra-omeroo problems was 27.3%, 22.3%, and 18% respectively. And Concerning post-COVID gastrointestinal manifestations, the prevalence of abdominal pain and persistent diarrhea was the highest found in 13.7% and 7.2% of the patients respectively. Regarding post-COVID ENT manifestations, the prevalence of anosmia was 18.7%. Regarding post-COVID drug problems, the prevalence of gastritis, hypertension, and elevated random blood sugar was 25.2%, 22.3%, and 15.1% respectively. More than thirty two (32.4%) of the patients needed hospitalization due to post-COVID syndrome.

Conclusion
Long COVID syndrome is a frequent and may lead to very serious conditions, hospitalization and mental health problems. Follow up COVID 19 patients and make them familiar of the possible post covid complications especially the serious ones will help for early recognition and management of these complications. Post COVID 19 syndrome may affect multiple systems and symptoms vary from mild to very serious conditions.