Symptoms and predictive factors of long COVID among Tunisian adults

The Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious infectious disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). COVID-19 can have lasting consequences even beyond the acute phase of infection. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 10% to 20% of individuals experience medium- and long-term effects after initial recovery, known as 'long COVID'. To describe long-term COVID-19 symptoms and risk factors among the Tunisian population. Our study is a descriptive and analytical retrospective longitudinal study involving patients with a history of COVID-19 infection who were followed up at the military field hospital of Sfax and the pneumology-allergology department at Hedi Chaker University Hospital in Sfax, Tunisia. Our study included 364 patients. Nearly 90% of the patients were having post-COVID syndrome, with an average age of 61 years and a slight male predominance (55%). Our study revealed that the most common post-COVID symptoms were shortness of breath (62.91%), fatigue (52.1%), arthralgias (42.3%), memory disorders (36.26%), dry cough (35.44%), sleep disturbances (32.14%), and palpitations (28.29%). Other reported symptoms included headaches (32.41%), chest pain (24.17%), loss of autonomy (20.6%), and anosmia (9.06%). Our study found that age was associated with loss of autonomy, while gender was correlated with palpitations, headaches, loss of autonomy, fatigue, and anxiety. Pulmonary comorbidities and smoking were found to be risk factors for respiratory symptoms. However, no correlation was found between obesity, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, severe COVID-19 infection, and long-term COVID symptoms. Although 82% of patients received SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, it was not found that long COVID symptoms were related to it. The long-term consequences of COVID-19 infection are causing increasing concern. Our focus is on exploring the persistent symptoms of long-term COVID and addressing the potential risk factors associated with the development of long-term COVID. Long COVID is still elusive and requires a better understanding of its pathogenesis, risk factors, symptoms, and treatment methods.