Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, Monastir, Tunisia.
Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.
BMC Infect Dis. 2024 May 1;24(1):461. doi: 10.1186/s12879-023-08949-8.
It has become increasingly clear that SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to persistent physical and mental health problems lasting weeks or months, requiring prolonged periods of clinical care and increasing the burden on the healthcare system. This phenomenon, known as post COVID-19 syndrome (PCS), is a relatively new condition, its incidence is still unclear and differs between studies.
In this cohort study, we aimed to estimate the incidence of PCS and to identify its risk factors in the Tunisian population.
This is a prospective cohort study that enrolled patients diagnosed with COVID-19 from the triage unit of the University Hospital of Monastir, Tunisia. between April 2021 and June 2022. Patients were contacted by phone for a follow-up evaluation of PCS 12- weeks after the diagnosis date.
A total of 1451 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 during the study period, responded to the follow-up evaluation after 3 months. The incidence of PCS was found to be 44.03% (95% CI [41.47; 46.58]), with fatigue being the most common symptom (21.5%), followed by cognitive impairment (10.3%), including memory loss and difficulty concentrating. Multivariate analysis revealed that the main associated factors to PCS were female gender (RR = 1.54; CI95% [1.30 - 1.82]), pre-existing comorbidities (RR = 1.30; CI95% [1.10 - 1.52]), duration of acute COVID-19 illness (days) (RR = 1.02; CI95% [1.01 - 1.03]), hospitalization (RR = 1.27; CI95% [1.05 - 1.53]), number of COVID-19 episodes (RR = 1.46; CI 95% [1.28 - 1.67]) and patients having receive two or more doses of vaccine prior to COVID-19 infection (RR = 0.82; CI95% [0.70 - 0.96]).
Our study allowed to estimate the incidence and identify risk factors of PCS. Recognizing these factors could help to better understand the underlying mechanisms and guide interventions for prevention and management of this condition.
越来越明显的是，SARS-CoV-2 感染可导致持续数周或数月的身心健康问题，需要长期的临床护理，从而增加医疗系统的负担。这种现象被称为新冠后综合征（PCS），是一种相对较新的病症，其发病率尚不清楚，且在不同研究中有所差异。
在这项队列研究中，我们旨在估计突尼斯人群中 PCS 的发病率，并确定其危险因素。
这是一项前瞻性队列研究，纳入了 2021 年 4 月至 2022 年 6 月期间在突尼斯莫纳斯提尔大学医院分诊单元被诊断为 COVID-19 的患者。在诊断日期后 12 周，通过电话联系患者进行 PCS 的随访评估。
在研究期间，共有 1451 名被诊断为 COVID-19 的个体对 3 个月后的随访评估做出了回应。发现 PCS 的发病率为 44.03%（95%CI[41.47;46.58]），疲劳是最常见的症状（21.5%），其次是认知障碍（10.3%），包括记忆力减退和注意力难以集中。多变量分析显示，PCS 的主要相关因素是女性（RR=1.54；95%CI[1.30-1.82]）、合并症（RR=1.30；95%CI[1.10-1.52]）、急性 COVID-19 疾病持续时间（天）（RR=1.02；95%CI[1.01-1.03]）、住院治疗（RR=1.27；95%CI[1.05-1.53]）、COVID-19 发作次数（RR=1.46；95%CI[1.28-1.67]）和感染 COVID-19 之前接种两剂或更多剂疫苗的患者（RR=0.82；95%CI[0.70-0.96]）。
我们的研究允许估计 PCS 的发病率并确定其危险因素。认识到这些因素可以帮助更好地理解潜在机制，并指导预防和管理这种病症的干预措施。
