Residual symptoms in moderate to severe COVID-19 patients

A variable propotion of COVID-19 patients still complain from persistent symptoms many weeks after the acute disease. The purpose of our study was to identify the prevalence, the spectrum and the related factors of residual symptoms one and three months after hospital disharge in patients admitted with COVID-19 We set up systematic COVID-19 follow up consultations dedicated to discharged patients from the pulmonary department B at Abderrahmen Mami hospital, TUNISIA. The follow up evaluation occured 30 and 90 days after hospital discharge. Until 30 January 2021, 115 consecutive patients were enrolled with a mean follow up period of 62 days from the acute COVID-19. The median age was 60 years old [28-90] and 52% were men. Seventeen patients required intensive care (14%). The median hospital stay was 9 days [2-45]. Four patients needed home oxygen after hospital discharge (3%). One month after the infection, 73% of the patients reported at least one residual symptom. The most common complain were dyspnea (60%), fatigue (45%), sleep distubance (18%) and chest tightness (15%). Other Less common symptoms were noted (<10%) : sore throat, myalgia, diarrhea, dizziness, dysgueusia, hiccough and hairloss. There were no association between residual symptoms and the severity of the acute disease, however, symptomatic patients were older, with female predomination and with more comorbidities (p>0.01). Three months after hospital discharge, 38% of the patients are still symptomatic and further investigations were needed. Follow-up of COVID-19 patients is mandotary to detect any residual or emerging symptom. Physical and psychological rehabilitation care must be implemented early to manage the post COVID-19 syndrome.