A Survey of Respiratory Symptoms Reported in Patients Following Hospitalization with COVID-19 Infection

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a global health emergency. It is an airborne, respiratory infection with multi-systemic involvement, notably in the upper and lower airways. Clinical manifestations range from asymptomatic to respiratory failure requiring advanced airway with mechanical ventilation - and even death. There is limited information about respiratory symptoms after treatment for the disease after hospital discharge. An Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved phone survey was conducted for patients hospitalized and discharged with COVID-19 from a local tertiary center. A list was generated of COVID-19 patients diagnosed by RT-PCR at the same facility March to August 2020. Phone numbers were obtained from patient demographics. Of a list of 232 individuals, 42 patients responded. Average age at diagnosis was 59.2 years (ranging 7 to 87 years). Patients or their caretakers were asked if additional therapy/treatment was needed in addition to a list of symptoms that were caused/worsened by COVID-19 infection within 6 months post-discharge. 38.1% of patients required some form of additional therapy after discharge. Patients reported: fatigue (52.4%), changes in activities of daily living (52.4%), shortness of breath (47.6%), decreased smell/taste (42.9%), increased mucus production (38.1%), nasal congestion (28.6%), rhinorrhea (28.6%), cough (26.2%), chest tightness (23.8%), sneezing (19.0%), wheezing (16.7%), and sinus pain/pressure (11.9%). In the 6 months following hospital discharge for a subset of patients with COVID-19 infection, residual shortness of breath and decreased smell/taste, in addition to fatigue and changes in activities of daily living, were more often reported than other respiratory symptoms.