Post COVID-19 sequelae: A prospective observational study from Northern India

Naik, S. R.; Soneja, M.; Haldar, S.; Mundadan, N. G.; Garg, P.; mittal, a.; Desai, D.; Trilangi, P. K.; Chakraborty, S.; Begam, N. N.; Bhattacharya, B.; Maher, G.; Kumar, S. S.; Jonnalagadda, K.; Arunan, B.; Gupta, A.; Mahishi, N.; Rajanna, C.; Prasoon, P.; Kumar, N. A.; Maharatna, S.; Bhattacharya, A.; Keri, V.; Samed, S. A.; K, A. A.; Shareef, I.; Ravela, N.; Swain, S.; Sarda, R.; Kadnur, H. B.; Dudhwal, A.; Agarwal, A.; Vedula, K.; Agarwal, S.; R, A.; Lalikar, P.; Jagtap, P.; Bainsla, P.; Kodan, P.; Sethi, P.; Ray, A.; Jorwal, P.; Kumar, A.; Nischal, N.; Sinha, S.; Biswas, A.; Wi,

Background: Long COVID, or post-COVID-19 sequelae, is being seen in a growing number of patients reporting a constellation of symptoms, both pulmonary and extrapulmonary. Studies on COVID-19 recovered patients are scarce. Thus, there is a need to add granularity to our existing knowledge about the course and long-term effects of the infection. Aim: To describe the clinical details and risk factors of post-COVID sequelae in the North Indian population. Method: This prospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary healthcare centre in Northern India between October 2020 to February 2021. Patients aged >18 years with a confirmed COVID-19 disease were recruited after at least two weeks of diagnosis and interviewed for any post-COVID-19 symptoms. Results: Of 1234 patients recruited, who were followed up for a median duration of 91 days (IQR: 45-181 days), 495 (40.11%) patients had symptoms. In 223 (18.1%) patients, the symptoms resolved within four weeks, 150 (12.1%) patients had symptoms till twelve weeks, and 122 (9.9%) patients had symptoms beyond twelve weeks of diagnosis of COVID-19. Most common long COVID-19 symptoms included myalgia (10.9%), fatigue (5.5%), shortness of breath (6.1%), cough (2.1%), disturbed sleep (1.4%), mood disturbances (0.48%) and anxiety (0.6%). The major determinants of developing post-COVID-19 symptoms in the patients were hypothyroidism and the severity of the disease. Conclusion: Most often, patients complain of myalgias, fatigue, dyspnoea, cough and disturbed sleep. Patients who are hypothyroid or have recovered from moderate to severe COVID-19 are at higher risk of developing post-COVID sequelae. Therefore, a multidisciplinary approach is required to diagnose and manage COVID-19 recovered patients.