The frequency of persistent symptoms after acute COVID-19 among Iraqi patients
Background: Post–coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms tend to persist in many survivors of COVID-19. Objectives: To find out the prevalence of persistent symptoms that continue to appear after the eradication of the COVID-19 infection among Iraqi survivors. We hypothesized that wearing a mas...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Medical Journal of Babylon |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.medjbabylon.org/article.asp?issn=1812-156X;year=2021;volume=18;issue=3;spage=235;epage=240;aulast=Amen |
| _version_ | 1818559232574750720 |
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| author | Shwan O Amen Banan Q Rasool Salah H Yousif Sara S Shakir Bnar S Shekho |
| author_facet | Shwan O Amen Banan Q Rasool Salah H Yousif Sara S Shakir Bnar S Shekho |
| author_sort | Shwan O Amen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Post–coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms tend to persist in many survivors of COVID-19. Objectives: To find out the prevalence of persistent symptoms that continue to appear after the eradication of the COVID-19 infection among Iraqi survivors. We hypothesized that wearing a mask during the COVID-19 pandemic may lead to a lesser viral load in an individual who gets infected, thereby leading to milder symptoms and manifestations. Materials and Methods: Overall, 70 consecutive Iraqi patients diagnosed with COVID-19 during the period from early August to late September 2020 were enrolled in the study, and on a mean of 31 days after recovery, they were assessed for persistent symptoms after the acute COVID-19 infection. Results: The mean age ± SD was 40.5 ± 16.1 years old. On a mean of 31 days post-COVID-19 recovery, 91.4% of all the patients had at least one persistent symptom. The most common persistent symptoms recorded were fatigue (42.9%), dyspnea (32.8%), and chest pain (25.7%). There was a statistically significant difference (P = 0.002) among patients with hypertension, among whom 45.5% had persistent palpitation. Among patients with ischemic heart disease, 25% had constant chest pain, and 37.5% complained of palpitation post-recovery. Patients who had used masks before infection (85.4%) were managed at home, and they did not require hospitalization. Overall, 45.7% of those dyspneic during the infection period were still complaining of exertional dyspnea post-recovery (P = 0.041). Conclusion: A large proportion of the Iraqi patients with COVID-19 infection had persistent symptoms after recovery. The use of a mask before infection showed mild symptoms during the acute phase, and hospitalization or oxygen therapy was not indicated for them. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T00:22:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2d3af0bbe0ec4d4dbd48f340a8ef7e2a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1812-156X 2312-6760 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T00:22:43Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Medical Journal of Babylon |
| spelling | doaj.art-2d3af0bbe0ec4d4dbd48f340a8ef7e2a2022-12-21T23:25:10ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsMedical Journal of Babylon1812-156X2312-67602021-01-0118323524010.4103/MJBL.MJBL_25_21The frequency of persistent symptoms after acute COVID-19 among Iraqi patientsShwan O AmenBanan Q RasoolSalah H YousifSara S ShakirBnar S ShekhoBackground: Post–coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms tend to persist in many survivors of COVID-19. Objectives: To find out the prevalence of persistent symptoms that continue to appear after the eradication of the COVID-19 infection among Iraqi survivors. We hypothesized that wearing a mask during the COVID-19 pandemic may lead to a lesser viral load in an individual who gets infected, thereby leading to milder symptoms and manifestations. Materials and Methods: Overall, 70 consecutive Iraqi patients diagnosed with COVID-19 during the period from early August to late September 2020 were enrolled in the study, and on a mean of 31 days after recovery, they were assessed for persistent symptoms after the acute COVID-19 infection. Results: The mean age ± SD was 40.5 ± 16.1 years old. On a mean of 31 days post-COVID-19 recovery, 91.4% of all the patients had at least one persistent symptom. The most common persistent symptoms recorded were fatigue (42.9%), dyspnea (32.8%), and chest pain (25.7%). There was a statistically significant difference (P = 0.002) among patients with hypertension, among whom 45.5% had persistent palpitation. Among patients with ischemic heart disease, 25% had constant chest pain, and 37.5% complained of palpitation post-recovery. Patients who had used masks before infection (85.4%) were managed at home, and they did not require hospitalization. Overall, 45.7% of those dyspneic during the infection period were still complaining of exertional dyspnea post-recovery (P = 0.041). Conclusion: A large proportion of the Iraqi patients with COVID-19 infection had persistent symptoms after recovery. The use of a mask before infection showed mild symptoms during the acute phase, and hospitalization or oxygen therapy was not indicated for them.http://www.medjbabylon.org/article.asp?issn=1812-156X;year=2021;volume=18;issue=3;spage=235;epage=240;aulast=Amenlong-term covid-19persistent covid-19 symptomsars-cov-2 |
| spellingShingle | Shwan O Amen Banan Q Rasool Salah H Yousif Sara S Shakir Bnar S Shekho The frequency of persistent symptoms after acute COVID-19 among Iraqi patients Medical Journal of Babylon long-term covid-19 persistent covid-19 symptom sars-cov-2 |
| title | The frequency of persistent symptoms after acute COVID-19 among Iraqi patients |
| title_full | The frequency of persistent symptoms after acute COVID-19 among Iraqi patients |
| title_fullStr | The frequency of persistent symptoms after acute COVID-19 among Iraqi patients |
| title_full_unstemmed | The frequency of persistent symptoms after acute COVID-19 among Iraqi patients |
| title_short | The frequency of persistent symptoms after acute COVID-19 among Iraqi patients |
| title_sort | frequency of persistent symptoms after acute covid 19 among iraqi patients |
| topic | long-term covid-19 persistent covid-19 symptom sars-cov-2 |
| url | http://www.medjbabylon.org/article.asp?issn=1812-156X;year=2021;volume=18;issue=3;spage=235;epage=240;aulast=Amen |
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