Long COVID prevalence and physiology-centered risks: population-based study in Ukraine

Abstract

Aim Multifaceted long COVID caused by SARS-COV-2 affects all populations in the World and takes priority over any other research topics for health care. The purpose of study is to identify physiology-centered risks, prevalence, symptoms and laboratory findings in patients with long COVID in Ukraine. Methods A prospective, cohort study was carried out on 332 patients with long COVID after 4 weeks and more after acute infection COVID-19 from Jul 1, 2021, to Jul 1, 2022. Physiology-centered risks related to age, gender, body mass index (BMI), marital status and educational capacity, smoking, lifestyle, physical activity, and laboratory findings (before disease), and symptom distribution were analyzed. Results The cohort for the study consisted of 166 females and 107 males (mean age = 42; including young 18 (5.4%) and middle- and old-aged adults 314 (96.4%)). Increased BMI was in 61%, and less physical activity—65%. There were 4 clusters of symptoms related to physical, neurocognitive, pulmonary, and pain conditions. 95% of participants had ≥ 3 symptoms. The most common symptoms were fatigue (90%), muscular pain (85%), anosmia (70%), hair loss (70%), sleep disorders (70%), dyspnea (30%), and brain fog (25%). Among laboratory finding increased CRP (92.6%) and fibrinogen (82.7%) dominated. There are no differences between hospitalized and non-hospitalized patients in distribution symptoms. Conclusions The prevalence of long COVID is 23%, and its physiology-centered risk factors are related to age more 38 years, female sex, unhealthy lifestyle, increased BMI, and increased inflammatory markers during COVID-19. The most common symptoms are associated with neurocognitive and pain clusters.

Risk and protective factors for Long COVID in Brazilian adults (CUME Study)

“…In this study, being female increased the risk of Long COVID by 56%. Our scientific findings are corroborated by results from several longitudinal studies conducted in Brazil and other countries that unanimously identified the female sex as a risk factor for Long COVID (33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42). The explanations for why women have a higher risk for developing Long COVID are still incipient.…”

Genetic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 virus variants observed upon three waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine between February 2021–January 2022

“…Clinical paediatric patients’ data from Ukraine confirm a moderate course of illness and a good prognosis for children [ 78 ]. According to a population-based study in Ukraine, long COVID prevalence has been associated with age, female sex, unhealthy lifestyle and increased inflammatory markers disease [ 79 ].…”