Incidence of breakthrough infection after COVID vaccination and effect of post-covid-19 syndrome on medical students in a tertiary care hospital in Telangana

Abstract

Even though many breakthrough infections have been reported in the Telangana region, adequate data regarding them are not available. In addition, there is evidence that SARS-CoV-2 infection can result in long-term physical and mental health consequences. To estimate the incidence of breakthrough infections after COVID-19 vaccination and the effect of Post COVID 19 syndrome on staff and medical students in a tertiary care hospital in Telangana.1. To detect the incidence of breakthrough infections in staff and students in our institute; 2. To measure the effect of post-COVID-19 syndrome on the staff, undergraduate, and postgraduate medical students in our institute This study was carried out in a tertiary care medical college located near Hyderabad. This was a cross-sectional retrospective and prospective study where data was collected from individuals who were PCR-confirmed COVID-19-infected individuals diagnosed from December 2021 to July 2022. The cases were classified according to AIIMS clinical guidance for the management of adult COVID-19 patients. To assess the post-COVID syndrome in the staff and medical students, complaints of breathlessness, fatigue, difficulty in concentrating, and mood changes were further evaluated by using the modified dyspnea Medical Research Council scale, Fatigue Assessment scale (FAS), and Depression, Anxiety, Stress scale -21(DASS-21) respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 23. The incidence of breakthrough infections was found to be 9.40%. The maximum number was observed in second-year medical undergraduates followed by medical post-graduates. A total of 40 participants (21.16%) reported suffering from post-COVID-19 syndrome. Fatigue was the most common symptom reported, followed by post-exertion malaise and headache. The incidence of breakthrough infections shows that increased awareness and prompt management of post –COVID syndrome is crucial in the post pandemic era.