Presence of COVID-19 self-reported symptoms at 12 months in patients discharged from hospital in 2020-2021: a Spanish cross-sectional study

Abstract

The long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and their determinants, are still unknown. This study aimed to assess symptoms one year after admission for COVID-19, according to the organ/system involved, and to identify factors. Cross-sectional study with retrospective data collection from March 2020 to February 2021. Inclusion criteria: aged ≥ 18 years and admitted for COVID-19. Exclusion criteria: death, not localized, refusal to participate, cognitive impairment or language barrier. A telephone survey was conducted on long COVID-related symptoms one year after hospital discharge. n = 486. The most frequent symptom groups were neurological (n = 225; 46.3%) and respiratory (n = 201; 41.4%). Multivariable analysis showed that a history of anxiety was significantly associated with psychiatric symptoms (ORa = 2.04, 95%CI = 1.02–4.06), fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue with general symptoms (ORa = 11.59, 95%CI = 1.47–9.34) and obesity with respiratory (ORa 1.90, 95%CI = 1.27– 2.83) and musculoskeletal symptoms (ORa 1.96, 95%CI = 1.30–2.96). Male sex was associated with a significantly lower risk of neurological (ORa 0.64, 95%CI = 0.44–0.93), respiratory (ORa 0.45, 95%CI = 0.31–0.67), general (ORa 0.43, 95%CI = 0.29–0.63), psychiatric (ORa 0.34, 95%CI = 0.22–0.51), musculoskeletal (ORa 0.47, 95%CI = 0.32–0.70), dermatological (ORa 0.24, 95%CI = 0.14–0.42) and digestive (ORa 0.38, 95%CI = 0.20–0.73) symptoms. Advanced age (≥ 71 years) also had a protective effect against general (ORa 0.60, 95%CI = 0.39–0.95), psychiatric (ORa 0.39, 95%CI = 0.23–0.64), and dermatological (ORa 0.47, 95%CI = 0.24–0.92) symptoms. Patients admitted for SARS-CoV-2 infection frequently experience symptoms at one year, especially neurological and respiratory symptoms. Female sex, obesity, a history of anxiety and fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue were independent risk factors for presenting symptoms. Advanced age acted as a protective factor.