Post COVID-19 syndrome and new onset diseases: a prospective observational study
Introduction: The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has defined the terms, ‘acute coronavirus disease 2019’ (COVID-19), ‘ongoing symptomatic COVID-19’ and ‘post-COVID-19 syndrome’, with the latter two described as having persistent symptoms after the onset of COVID-19 symptoms...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer – Medknow Publications
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Singapore Medical Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/singaporemedj.SMJ-2022-055 |
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| Summary: | Introduction:
The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has defined the terms, ‘acute coronavirus disease 2019’ (COVID-19), ‘ongoing symptomatic COVID-19’ and ‘post-COVID-19 syndrome’, with the latter two described as having persistent symptoms after the onset of COVID-19 symptoms for 4–12 weeks and >12 weeks, respectively. Persistent symptoms can either be due to the after-effects of COVID-19 or new-onset diseases after acute COVID-19. All symptoms observed beyond 4 weeks after the onset of COVID-19 need not be present at the time of onset. Previous studies on persistent post-COVID-19 symptoms have not mentioned new-onset diseases after acute COVID-19, and only a select few studies have discussed such new-onset symptoms.
Methods:
Ninety-five patients who attended the post-COVID-19 clinic completed the requisite follow-up till 16 weeks after COVID-19 symptom onset. Data was recorded on a predesigned proforma. Necessary investigations were conducted to rule out any other cause of persistent symptoms.
Results:
Fatigue (62.1%), breathlessness (50.5%) and cough (27.4%) were the most common symptoms present beyond 4 weeks after the onset of COVID-19 symptoms. Forty-nine (51.57%) patients developed post-COVID-19 syndrome — their severity of symptoms (odds ratio [OR] 17.77) and longer duration of hospital stay (OR 1.095) during acute disease were significantly associated with the development of post-COVID-19 syndrome. During follow-up, 25 patients developed new-onset symptoms, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension and idiopathic tachycardia.
Conclusion:
Patients can have persistent symptoms, new-onset symptoms and new-onset diseases after recovery from acute COVID-19. |
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| ISSN: | 0037-5675 2737-5935 |