Post-Discharge Symptoms among Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients in Nigeria: A Single-Center Study.

Dimie Ogoina,Stanley Zikeyi Ogoinja,Hendris Izibewule James

doi:10.4269/ajtmh.21-0509

Dimie Ogoina, Stanley Zikeyi Ogoinja + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.21-0509

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Abstract

ABSTRACT.There is a paucity of studies on post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) among hospitalized COVID-19 survivors from Nigeria. We describe the frequency, types, and duration of post-discharge symptoms suggestive of PCS among previously hospitalized COVID-19 patients in a treatment center in Nigeria. We conducted a retrospective review of admission and post-discharge follow-up medical records of COVID-19 survivors admitted between April and December 2020. A standardized checklist was used to document post-discharge symptoms. PCS was defined as persisting or new post-discharge symptoms lasting at least 3 weeks after initial COVID-19 symptoms. The relationship between study variables and development of PCS was ascertained by univariate analysis. Thirty of 51 previously hospitalized COVID-19 patients (median age, 46 years; male, 66.7%) were studied. Seventeen (56.7%) of the 30 patients developed features suggestive of PCS. Approximately three post-discharge symptoms were reported per patient over a follow-up period of ranging from 3 weeks to 9 months after initial COVID-19 symptoms. Cough, fatigue, and dyspnea were the most common post-discharge symptoms reported. A few patients had symptoms suggestive of thrombosis and COVID-19 reinfection. Among all study variables, baseline COVID-19 severity was the only significant variable associated with the development of PCS. PCS is common in our setting and is characterized by multisystemic signs and symptoms that require vigilance by clinicians for appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Long-term multicenter prospective studies are needed to characterize fully the burden of PCS among COVID-19 survivors in Nigeria.

Highlights

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage health systems across the globe
Amenta et al.[3] have suggested three categories of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PCS), including 1) residual symptoms that persist after recovery from acute infection, 2) organ dysfunction that persists after initial recovery, and 3) new symptoms or syndromes that develop after initial asymptomatic or mild infection
57% of our patients had PCS, with symptoms reported in almost every organ system

Summary

Introduction

The disease is typically characterized by acute symptoms of fever, cough, and shortness of breath, as well as other multisystemic signs and symptoms. Amenta et al.[3] have suggested three categories of PCS, including 1) residual symptoms that persist after recovery from acute infection, 2) organ dysfunction that persists after initial recovery, and 3) new symptoms or syndromes that develop after initial asymptomatic or mild infection. Dyspnea, joint pain, and cough have been described as the most common manifestations among patients with PCS, but sequelae have been reported in diverse organ systems.[2,3,5]

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