Zambia Field Epidemiology Training Program, Zambia National Public Health Institute, Lusaka, Zambia.
Workforce Development Cluster, Zambia National Public Health Institute, Lusaka, Zambia.
Pan Afr Med J. 2022 Jan 11;41:26. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2022.41.26.30721. eCollection 2022.
COVID-19 is often characterized by an acute upper respiratory tract infection. However, information on longer-term clinical sequelae following acute COVID-19 is emerging. We followed a group of persons with COVID-19 in Zambia at two months to assess persistent symptoms.
in September 2020, we re-contacted participants from SARS-CoV-2 prevalence studies conducted in Zambia in July 2020 whose polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests were positive. Participants with valid contact information were interviewed using a structured questionnaire that captured demographics, pre-existing conditions, and types and duration of symptoms. We describe the frequency and duration of reported symptoms and used chi-square tests to explore variability of symptoms by age group, gender, and underlying conditions.
of 302 participants, 155 (51%) reported one or more acute COVID-19-related symptoms in July 2020. Cough (50%), rhinorrhoea (36%) and headache (34%) were the most frequently reported symptoms proximal to diagnosis. The median symptom duration was 7 days (IQR: 3-9 days). At a median follow up of 54 days (IQR: 46-59 day), 27 (17%) symptomatic participants had not yet returned to their pre-COVID-19 health status. These participants most commonly reported cough (37%), headache (26%) and chest pain (22%). Age, sex, and pre-existing health conditions were not associated with persistent symptoms.
a notable percentage of persons with SARS-CoV-2 infection in July still had symptoms nearly two months after their diagnosis. Zambia is implementing ´post-acute COVID-19 clinics´ to care for patients with prolonged symptoms of COVID-19, to address their needs and better understand how the disease will impact the population over time.
COVID-19 通常表现为急性上呼吸道感染。然而，有关急性 COVID-19 后长期临床后遗症的信息正在出现。我们在两个月时对赞比亚的一组 COVID-19 患者进行了随访，以评估持续性症状。
2020 年 9 月，我们联系了 2020 年 7 月在赞比亚进行的 SARS-CoV-2 患病率研究中 PCR 检测呈阳性的参与者。对有有效联系方式的参与者进行了结构化问卷调查，以收集人口统计学、既往疾病和症状类型和持续时间等信息。我们描述了报告症状的频率和持续时间，并使用卡方检验探讨了年龄组、性别和潜在疾病对症状变异性的影响。
在 302 名参与者中，155 名（51%）在 2020 年 7 月报告了一种或多种与 COVID-19 相关的急性症状。咳嗽（50%）、流鼻涕（36%）和头痛（34%）是最接近诊断时报告的最常见症状。症状持续时间的中位数为 7 天（IQR：3-9 天）。在中位随访 54 天（IQR：46-59 天）时，27 名（17%）有症状的参与者尚未恢复到 COVID-19 前的健康状态。这些参与者最常报告的症状是咳嗽（37%）、头痛（26%）和胸痛（22%）。年龄、性别和既往健康状况与持续性症状无关。
在 7 月感染 SARS-CoV-2 的人中，有相当比例的人在诊断后将近两个月仍有症状。赞比亚正在实施“急性 COVID-19 后诊所”，以照顾患有 COVID-19 长期症状的患者，满足他们的需求，并更好地了解随着时间的推移，该疾病将如何影响人群。
