Up to 350 words. No references are allowed. Abstracts may be submitted at a later date.
Background: COVID-19 is a new disease, so we don’t know what comes in next. Due to the fact that information on delayed symptoms is limited, this study was conducted to assess the frequency of delayed symptoms in patients with COVID-19.
Methods: This follow-up cross-sectional study that was done from February to April, 2020. Two hundred patients who were hospitalized for COVID-19 and were discharged were assessed for delayed symptoms 6 weeks after discharge.
Results: The mean age of the participants was 55.58±13.52, and 160 (80%) Of them were male. On admission to hospital, patients reported a mean of 5.63±2.88 symptoms per patient, range from 1 to 14 symptoms. Dyspnea was seen in 119 (59.5%) 0f them as the most frequent symptom. Then weakness, myalgia, and shivering were reported with a frequency of 111 (55.5%), 107 (53.5%), and 103 (51.5%), respectively. six weeks after discharge reassessment was done. None of the patients was readmitted to the hospital. Ninety-four (42%) of them were symptom free. Fatigue was the most frequent delayed symptom with a frequency of 39 (19.5%), and then dyspnea, weakness, and activity intolerance with a frequency of 37 (18.5%), 36 (18%), and 29 (14.5%) were reported, respectively.
Conclusion: Fatigue, dyspnea, weakness, anxiety, and activity intolerance were most frequent delayed symptoms, respectively. Majority of patients were symptoms free and those with symptoms, had mild to moderate symptoms. The importance of symptoms is not fully recognized. Follow-up clinics and in some cases rehabilitation programs may be helpful.
Keywords: COVID-19, Fatigue, activity intolerance, rehabilitation