Prevalence and Factors Associated with Post Acute COVID Syndrome (Long COVID) in Patients Infected Coronavirus Disease 2019 who Received Inpatient Treatment Lan Krabue Hospital

Abstract

Background: Post-acute COVID Syndrome (Long COVID) is when a patient has recovered from the acute phase ofthe coronavirus disease 2019 but still has symptoms. Both physical and mental symptoms can occur 4-12 weeks afterinfection. Objective: This study aimed to study the prevalence and factors associated with Long COVID. Method: Ananalytical cross-sectional research was conducted in patients admitted as inpatients at Lan Krabue Hospital from Julyto September 2021. Results: The prevalence of symptoms after four weeks of infection was easy tiredness (35.9%),shortness of breath (29.5%), and fatigue (13.2%). As for after 12 weeks of infection, symptoms are easy tiredness(13.2%) and shortness of breath. (8.2%) and hair loss (6.8%). Four weeks after infection, it was found that femaleswere twice as likely as males (OR 1.964 95% CI 1.124, 3.369 p-value = .017). Patients with moderate and severesymptomatic symptoms are more likely to develop symptoms than asymptomatic or mild (OR 1.813 95% CI 1.018,3.226 p-value = .043). Conclusion: The prevalence of Long COVID with at least one residual symptom was noticed.Common symptoms included easy tiredness, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Factors associated with Long COVIDsyndrome were sex, in which females were more prone to Long COVID, and the severity of infection. According tothe study results, patients infected with the coronavirus 2019 suffer from Long-COVID-19. The public health systemshould provide surveillance, screening, and monitoring of patient symptoms, advise on observing symptoms afterbeing discharged, and provide medical services.