Sintomas persistentes em pacientes com covid longa: um estudo observacional transversal

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to identify the prevalence of persistent symptoms in individuals with Long Covid. Secondarily, the study intends to assess the impact of these symptoms on quality of life. This is a cross-sectional study conducted at the Universidade Nove de Julho, with data collected between June 2023 and August 2024, which included individuals with Long Covid. After an initial screening, individuals who met the inclusion criteria (aged ≥18 years, positive Covid -19 test, cognitive ability to answer questionnaires) were interviewed via phone calls. A specific questionnaire was used, containing information on sociodemographic data, comorbidities, persistent symptoms, the post-Covid-19 Functional Status Scale, the Medical Research Council dyspnea scale, the EuroQol health-related quality of life questionnaire, and the visual analog scale for status health perceptivity. Descriptive analysis was performed using frequency, means, and standard deviations. A total of 548 participants were recruited, of which 100 participants were analyzed. The mean age was 49.4 ± 15.2 years; 72.0% were women, 30.7 ± 6.1 kg/m². The duration of persistent symptoms due to Long Covid was 29.4 ± 16.6 months, with 50% of the sample being hospitalized for approximately 15.0 ± 12.9 days. Of these, 20% were intubated, remaining 13.7 ± 7.2 days in the intensive care unit (ICU). The most prevalent symptoms were memory loss (67.0%), shortness of breath (52.0%), fatigue (39.0%), and weakness (35.0%). Regarding the number of symptoms, 51% reported 2-5 symptoms. Regarding functional status, 33% reported no functional limitations, 28% moderate functional limitations, and 27% grade IV dyspnea. Regarding health related to quality of life, most participants reported worsening in the anxiety/depression domain. The most prevalent symptoms were memory loss, shortness of breath, and fatigue, with most participants presenting between 2 and 5 symptoms. Regarding functional status, most had no limitations, followed by moderate limitations, and many presented grade IV dyspnea. Finally, in health related to quality of life, the anxiety and depression domain was the most affected.