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16-03-2022 | COVID-19 | Original Paper

Post‐COVID-19 syndrome: assessment of short- and long-term post-recovery symptoms in recovered cases in Saudi Arabia

Authors: Mohammed A. Garout, Saleh A. K. Saleh, Heba M. Adly, Altaf A. Abdulkhaliq, Abdullah A. Khafagy, Magda R. Abdeltawab, Ali A. Rabaan, Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales, Jaffar A. Al-Tawfiq, Maher N. Alandiyjany

Published in: Infection | Issue 6/2022

Abstract

Introduction

Recent studies investigated the endurance of symptoms and occurrence of complications three months after SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study aims to examine the prevalence, variation, and severity of continual symptoms in the post‐COVID-19 using a single-center questionnaire.

Methods

The questionnaire was distributed among population in Saudi Arabia who recovered from COVID‐19 between April 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021.

Results

A total of 744 participants completed the questionnaire, 318 (42.8%) recovered less than 3 months, 75 (10.1%) recovered 3–6 months, while 351 (47.2%) recovered more than 6 months. About half of the participants 353 (47.5%) had incessant symptoms and of those patients, more than half had two or more symptoms. Common symptoms included fatigue 189 (25.4%), headache 118 (15.9%), and myalgia 63 (8.5%). Of the participants, 189 (21.4%) experienced continual symptoms including anxiety in 98 (13.2%) and depression in 70 (9.5%).

Conclusion

The current study showed a high proportion of individuals with long-COVID-19 symptoms. Thus, proper assessment of the individuals in the post-recovery period can guide the patients to the relevant clinics for rehabilitation. Moreover, there is a great importance to decrease COVID-19 infection, populations should be targeted to boost vaccine efficiency.

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Title: Post‐COVID-19 syndrome: assessment of short- and long-term post-recovery symptoms in recovered cases in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Mohammed A. Garout
Saleh A. K. Saleh
Heba M. Adly
Altaf A. Abdulkhaliq
Abdullah A. Khafagy
Magda R. Abdeltawab
Ali A. Rabaan
Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales
Jaffar A. Al-Tawfiq
Maher N. Alandiyjany
Publication date: 16-03-2022
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: COVID-19
Post-COVID Syndrome
Published in: Infection / Issue 6/2022
Print ISSN: 0300-8126
Electronic ISSN: 1439-0973
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-022-01788-w

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