Demographic, epidemiological and clinical profile of patients with post-COVID syndrome followed at a teaching hospital in Brazil

Introduction: Post-COVID Syndrome (PCS), occurs several weeks after Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 infection), has a frequency of 10 %‒35 % of cases, presents a wide range of symptoms that can persist for months or years and markedly reduces the quality of life of patients...

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Main Authors: João Paulo Borges de Melo, Alex Eduardo da Silva, Leandro Resende Yamamoto, Taciana Fernandes Araújo Ferreira, Gustavo José Luvizutto, Fernando Freitas Neves, Kelly Cristina Santos, Roger Lopes Batista, Isabel Cunha Santos, Francielle Schiavoni, Mario León Silva-Vergara
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1413867025000121
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author João Paulo Borges de Melo
Alex Eduardo da Silva
Leandro Resende Yamamoto
Taciana Fernandes Araújo Ferreira
Gustavo José Luvizutto
Fernando Freitas Neves
Kelly Cristina Santos
Roger Lopes Batista
Isabel Cunha Santos
Francielle Schiavoni
Mario León Silva-Vergara
author_facet João Paulo Borges de Melo
Alex Eduardo da Silva
Leandro Resende Yamamoto
Taciana Fernandes Araújo Ferreira
Gustavo José Luvizutto
Fernando Freitas Neves
Kelly Cristina Santos
Roger Lopes Batista
Isabel Cunha Santos
Francielle Schiavoni
Mario León Silva-Vergara
author_sort João Paulo Borges de Melo
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Post-COVID Syndrome (PCS), occurs several weeks after Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 infection), has a frequency of 10 %‒35 % of cases, presents a wide range of symptoms that can persist for months or years and markedly reduces the quality of life of patients. Objective: To describe clinical, epidemiological and evolutionary aspects of a cohort of patients diagnosed with PCS followed on an outpatient basis. Methodology: Individuals of both sexes, > 18-years old who presented symptoms suggestive of PCS and had previously confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were included. Clinical evaluation was carried out monthly by a multidisciplinary team, and if necessary laboratorial exams were performed. Results: From June 2021 to June 2022, 92 cases of PCS were diagnosed, of which 60 (65.2 %) were female and the average age was 49.1 years. In 61 (66.3 %) of the cases, SARS-CoV-2 infection occurred between January and November 2021. In 55 (59.7 %) of the cases the symptoms were mild, while 31 (36.0 %) were moderate or severe cases. Most cases of PCS occurred in individuals with the mild form of COVID-19. The predominant symptoms were chronic fatigue in 59 (68.6 %) cases, brain fog in 68 (73.4 %), myalgias and arthralgias in 44 (47.8 %), cramps and paresthesia's in 40 (46.5 %). The main comorbidities observed were high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes mellitus. The persistence of symptoms was greater in those cases who presented severe forms of COVID-19. Most patients experienced gradual and progressive improvement over the months. Discussion: The profile of patients with PCS in this cohort is similar to other reports. A great number of symptoms is remarkable with variable presentation and evolution and their frequency exceeds that previously described in a large meta-analysis. Inflammatory phenomena mediated by the virus, autoimmunity and direct organic damage have been implicated in the genesis of this syndrome.
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spelling doaj-art-e5316e48ef4544d093c8e95bc242bfa92025-08-20T03:44:27ZengElsevierBrazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases1413-86702025-03-0129210450910.1016/j.bjid.2025.104509Demographic, epidemiological and clinical profile of patients with post-COVID syndrome followed at a teaching hospital in BrazilJoão Paulo Borges de Melo0Alex Eduardo da Silva1Leandro Resende Yamamoto2Taciana Fernandes Araújo Ferreira3Gustavo José Luvizutto4Fernando Freitas Neves5Kelly Cristina Santos6Roger Lopes Batista7Isabel Cunha Santos8Francielle Schiavoni9Mario León Silva-Vergara10Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Uberaba, MG, BrazilUniversidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Uberaba, MG, BrazilUniversidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Uberaba, MG, BrazilUniversidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Uberaba, MG, BrazilUniversidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Uberaba, MG, BrazilUniversidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Uberaba, MG, BrazilUniversidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Uberaba, MG, BrazilUniversidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Uberaba, MG, BrazilUniversidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Uberaba, MG, BrazilUniversidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Uberaba, MG, BrazilCorresponding author.; Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Uberaba, MG, BrazilIntroduction: Post-COVID Syndrome (PCS), occurs several weeks after Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 infection), has a frequency of 10 %‒35 % of cases, presents a wide range of symptoms that can persist for months or years and markedly reduces the quality of life of patients. Objective: To describe clinical, epidemiological and evolutionary aspects of a cohort of patients diagnosed with PCS followed on an outpatient basis. Methodology: Individuals of both sexes, > 18-years old who presented symptoms suggestive of PCS and had previously confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were included. Clinical evaluation was carried out monthly by a multidisciplinary team, and if necessary laboratorial exams were performed. Results: From June 2021 to June 2022, 92 cases of PCS were diagnosed, of which 60 (65.2 %) were female and the average age was 49.1 years. In 61 (66.3 %) of the cases, SARS-CoV-2 infection occurred between January and November 2021. In 55 (59.7 %) of the cases the symptoms were mild, while 31 (36.0 %) were moderate or severe cases. Most cases of PCS occurred in individuals with the mild form of COVID-19. The predominant symptoms were chronic fatigue in 59 (68.6 %) cases, brain fog in 68 (73.4 %), myalgias and arthralgias in 44 (47.8 %), cramps and paresthesia's in 40 (46.5 %). The main comorbidities observed were high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes mellitus. The persistence of symptoms was greater in those cases who presented severe forms of COVID-19. Most patients experienced gradual and progressive improvement over the months. Discussion: The profile of patients with PCS in this cohort is similar to other reports. A great number of symptoms is remarkable with variable presentation and evolution and their frequency exceeds that previously described in a large meta-analysis. Inflammatory phenomena mediated by the virus, autoimmunity and direct organic damage have been implicated in the genesis of this syndrome.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1413867025000121COVID-19Post-COVID syndromeChronic fatigueBrain fogSARS-CoV-2
spellingShingle João Paulo Borges de Melo
Alex Eduardo da Silva
Leandro Resende Yamamoto
Taciana Fernandes Araújo Ferreira
Gustavo José Luvizutto
Fernando Freitas Neves
Kelly Cristina Santos
Roger Lopes Batista
Isabel Cunha Santos
Francielle Schiavoni
Mario León Silva-Vergara
Demographic, epidemiological and clinical profile of patients with post-COVID syndrome followed at a teaching hospital in Brazil
Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases
COVID-19
Post-COVID syndrome
Chronic fatigue
Brain fog
SARS-CoV-2
title Demographic, epidemiological and clinical profile of patients with post-COVID syndrome followed at a teaching hospital in Brazil
title_full Demographic, epidemiological and clinical profile of patients with post-COVID syndrome followed at a teaching hospital in Brazil
title_fullStr Demographic, epidemiological and clinical profile of patients with post-COVID syndrome followed at a teaching hospital in Brazil
title_full_unstemmed Demographic, epidemiological and clinical profile of patients with post-COVID syndrome followed at a teaching hospital in Brazil
title_short Demographic, epidemiological and clinical profile of patients with post-COVID syndrome followed at a teaching hospital in Brazil
title_sort demographic epidemiological and clinical profile of patients with post covid syndrome followed at a teaching hospital in brazil
topic COVID-19
Post-COVID syndrome
Chronic fatigue
Brain fog
SARS-CoV-2
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1413867025000121
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