The Greek Collaborative Long COVID Study: Non-Hospitalized and Hospitalized Patients Share Similar Symptom Patterns

Abstract

Long COVID-19 syndrome refers to persisting symptoms (>12 weeks) after the initial coronavirus infection and is estimated to affect 3% to 12% of people diagnosed with the disease globally. Aim: We conducted a collaborative study with the Long COVID patient organization in Greece, in order to estimate the characteristics, symptoms, and challenges these patients confront. Methods: Data were collected from 208 patients using unstructured qualitative free-text entries in an anonymized online questionnaire. Results: The majority of respondents (68.8%) were not hospitalized and reported lingering symptoms (66.8%) for more than six months. Eighteen different symptoms (fatigue, palpitations, shortness of breath, parosmia, etc.) were mentioned in both hospitalized and community patients. Awareness of Long COVID sequelae seems to be low even among medical doctors. Treatment options incorporating targeted rehabilitation programs are either not available or still not included inthe management plan of Long COVID patients. Conclusions: Patients infected with coronavirus with initial mild symptoms suffer from the same persistent symptoms as those who were hospitalized. Long COVID syndrome appears to be a multi-systemic entity and a multidisciplinary medical approach should be adopted in order to correctly diagnose and successfully manage these patients.

The assessment of qualitative olfactory dysfunction in COVID-19 patients: a systematic review of tools and their content validity

“…Katsarou et al ( 2022 ) developed a 14-item online questionnaire for their cross-sectional study, in which one of the items assessed the presence of parosmia: “Long COVID symptoms (please use a comma to separate each symptom).” Researchers analyzed the results by identifying term frequencies, of which parosmia was regarded as one of the categories. The question itself, however, allows for general and specific symptoms that participants themselves have to provide and define.…”

Prevalence of long COVID-19 syndrome among health care workers of Patan Academy of Health Sciences

“…A study done by COMEBAC study group 14 found out that 51% had at least 1 new A study done by Anushri, et al 15 found that pulmonary, neuropsychiatric and cardiovascular symptoms were more predominant same as our findings. The Greek Collaborative Long Covid Study 16 found out that patients who had mild symptoms during COVID 19 infection suffer from same persistent symptoms as patients who were hospitalized. In our study we included both hospitalized and out patients too, although they were predominantly outpatients.…”

Factors Influencing Mobility During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

“…Recent rehabilitation frameworks highlight the need for rehabilitation experts to mitigate both direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19, and to help older adults be as physically active and mobile as possible to counteract both the effects of lockdown and to promote recovery from illness. 6,42 Our study is the first, to our knowledge, to examine the factors associated with mobility using a validated and standardized self-report measure during the pandemic. Other comparable research used non-validated measures, 36 or life space mobility assesments, 34,43,44 which makes interpretation challenging since changes in life space mobility may be due to public health restrictions rather than declines in older adults' capabilities.…”