Abstract
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors may continue experiencing diverse symptoms. This study portrays the clinical and laboratory profile of patients with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19’(PASC) at a tertiary care hospital in India. Methodology: This cross-sectional study enrolled patients visiting the post-COVID-19 clinic three weeks after their acute COVID-19 illness. Their clinical, serological, and radiological characteristics were collected and analyzed.Results: Of the 259 participants (age: 48.02±15.27 years; 62.25% men), 168 had PASC manifestations. The most frequently reported symptoms were fatigue (n=71(42.26%)), breathlessness (n=38(22.61%)), and cough (n=35(20.83%)). Patients with PASC had higher body mass index (28.24±5.02 vs. 26.26±3.65; p=0.002), history of hypertension (52 (30.95%) vs. 17 (18.6%); p=0.039), uncontrolled systolic blood pressure (37 (22.03) vs. 14 (15.38); p=0.042), and persistent chest x-ray abnormalities (34 (20.23) vs. 10 (10.98); p=0.048).Conclusion: Fatigue, breathlessness, and cough are common PASC symptoms. Hypertension, obesity, and abnormal chest x-ray findings at follow-up are potential risk factors for developing PASC.
Highlights
The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has wreaked devastation worldwide
Patients with Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) had higher body mass index (28.24±5.02 vs. 26.26±3.65; p=0.002), history of hypertension (52 (30.95%) vs. 17 (18.6%); p=0.039), uncontrolled systolic blood pressure (37 (22.03) vs. 14 (15.38); p=0.042), and persistent chest x-ray abnormalities (34 (20.23) vs. 10 (10.98); p=0.048)
The risk factors predisposing to the development of PASC are yet to be fully ascertained since some patients who remained asymptomatic in the acute COVID-19 phase have gone on to experience PASC symptoms whereas some survivors of even severe disease remained free from symptoms beyond three weeks [5]
Summary
The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has wreaked devastation worldwide. Several survivors seemed to be experiencing a myriad of protracted symptoms beyond the acute phase of the illness. Terms such as “Long COVID,” “Postacute COVID-19 illness,” and "Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC)" have been used to describe this condition wherein patients continue to have symptoms beyond three weeks from the onset of acute COVID19 [2,3]. The risk factors predisposing to the development of PASC are yet to be fully ascertained since some patients who remained asymptomatic in the acute COVID-19 phase have gone on to experience PASC symptoms whereas some survivors of even severe disease remained free from symptoms beyond three weeks [5]. This study portrays the clinical and laboratory profile of patients with post-acute sequelae of COVID19’(PASC) at a tertiary care hospital in India
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