Common Symptoms of Post COVID-19 Syndrome of Patients Attended in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Northern Part of Bangladesh
Abstract
Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate post-COVID symptom, risk factors, and their impact on patients’ well-being,
focusing on the continuation of symptoms after viral clearance and the appearance of new symptoms several months after
recovery.
Materials and Methods: The study was conducted at Rafatullah Community Hospital, TMSS Medical College, Bogura,
from April to November 2021, with a three-month follow-up period for post-COVID patients.
Results: This study involved 300 COVID-19 patients who received treatment from various hospitals and stayed at home.
The majority (87%) reported fever as their symptoms, followed by fatigability (81.3%) and cough (78.3%). Fatigue was
the most prevalent enduring symptom in the post-COVID-19 period, with 41.8% reporting fatigue 60 days after symptoms
onset and 28% reporting it 90 days later. Shortness of breath was reported by 32.67% of patients after 12 weeks. Other
symptom included sore throat, cough, and diarrhea.
Conclusion: COVID-19 patients may continue to experience symptoms post-recovery, highlighting the need to consider
long-term effects such as increased patient morbidity, increased healthcare system demand, and financial resource loss.
Keywords
COVID-19
Fatigue
Longitudinal study Northern region
Post COVID-19 syndrome
Introduction
COVID-19, induced by SARS-CoV-2, was first found in Wuhan, Hubei, China. The World Health Organization labeled the illness a pandemic on March 11, 2020. On November 2, 2020, Bangladesh's Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) recorded 410,988 cases and 5,966 deaths. On June 1, 2020, TMSS Medical College & Rafatullah Community Hospital (TMC & RCH) opened its COVID-19 unit, admitting its first patient on June 3. Most cases were severe, health personnel were inexperienced, and most treatment was symptomatic during the first half of the first wave of COVID-19 (8 months). Post-COVID syndrome was diagnosed in many hospitalized or home-treated patients who came to TMC & RCH in the second part of the first wave. Even moderate COVID-19 patients have persistent or new symptoms following recovery. Many COVID-19 patients died, although milder symptoms were more prevalent. According to research, 10% of patients had a three-week sickness, and others had symptoms for a month. Following an acute illness, multisystem disorders may occur.