Analysis of post-COVID comorbidities in Pakistani population

Abstract

Introduction: Long-COVID, is the collective name given to denote persistence of symptoms for weeks or months in those who have recovered from SARS-COV-2 infection. If the relapsing symptoms are left undetected, can lead to chronic conditions. Still some work needs to be done to determine the correlation of the previous illnesses with the severity of post-COVID symptoms. Method: A questionnaire survey was spread amongst Pakistani population. About 83 COVID-19 survivors were included in the study, who were asked about any occurrence of symptoms at recovery, the experience and duration of the post-viral symptoms. Results: Out of 83 participants, 59(71.7%) experienced relapsing symptoms at 3 weeks from the onset of the viral infection, with 34(44.6%) having to face those symptoms for 3-4 weeks (post-acute COVID). Females were significantly more likely to experience fatigue (p=0.014) and severity (p=0.032). The presence of symptoms was not associated with any therapy or activity. The presence of mild symptoms is common after the COVID-19 infection with those already suffering from anxiety, allergies, hypertension, and diabetes. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of assessing those recovering from mild COVID-19 with acute-fatigue. Moreover, further longitudinal research in this area can help understand the management of chronic situations.