Post-COVID Syndrome in Southern Tunisia: Prevalence, Clinical Spectrum, and Associated Factors Among Non-Severe Patients.

Q2 Medicine

Hospital Topics Pub Date : 2025-07-01 DOI:10.1080/00185868.2025.2524796

Nouha Ketata, Jihen Jdidi, Hanen Maamri, Mouna Baklouti, Fadhila Issaoui, Chakroun Olfa, Jamel Damak, Sourour Yaich, Yosra Mejdoub, Rania Hammemi

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction: Post-COVID syndrome, a long-term consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, remains insufficiently understood. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of post-COVID syndrome, describe its clinical spectrum, and identify associated factors among patients with non-severe forms of the disease.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using telephone interviews in Sfax, southern Tunisia, during January 2021. The study population included individuals who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in October 2020. Minors and deceased individuals were excluded. Post-COVID syndrome was defined as the persistence of symptoms for more than eight weeks following the initial COVID-19 diagnosis.

Results: A total of 2,070 patients were enrolled. The sample included 1,230 women (59.4%), with a male-to-female ratio of 0.68. The median age was 40 years [semi-interquartile range (SIR): 12.5 years]. The prevalence of post-COVID syndrome was 41.6% (n = 861). Among these, 229 patients (26.5%) consulted a physician for persistent symptoms, and 122 (14.13%) underwent further paraclinical evaluation. The most commonly reported symptoms were ageusia (68.9%), cognitive difficulties including concentration and memory impairment (24.9%), and fatigue (17.4%). Independent factors significantly associated with post-COVID syndrome included: age under 60 years (AOR = 1.8; 95% CI: 1.50-2.66), female gender (AOR = 1.6; 95% CI: 1.35-1.96), history of chronic respiratory disease (AOR = 1.8; 95% CI: 1.2-2.8), history of cancer (AOR = 3.5; 95% CI: 1.03-12.2), anticoagulant therapy (AOR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.1-1.8), salicylic acid use (AOR = 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1-1.9), and initial clinical severity categorized as mild (AOR = 5.5; 95% CI: 3.5-8.5) or moderate (AOR = 7.1; 95% CI: 4.2-11.9).

Conclusion: A better understanding of the long-term manifestations of COVID-19, such as post-COVID syndrome, is essential. In the context of widespread vaccination and evolving variants, multidisciplinary approaches must be reconsidered to improve patient follow-up and healthcare strategies.

查看原文本刊更多论文

突尼斯南部的后冠状病毒综合征：非重症患者的患病率、临床谱和相关因素

导言：COVID-19大流行带来的长期后果——COVID-19后综合征，目前仍未得到充分认识。本研究旨在估计covid - 19后综合征的患病率，描述其临床谱，并确定非严重形式疾病患者的相关因素。方法：我们于2021年1月在突尼斯南部斯法克斯通过电话访谈进行了横断面研究。研究人群包括2020年10月SARS-CoV-2检测呈阳性的个体。未成年人和已去世的人被排除在外。后covid综合征被定义为在最初的COVID-19诊断后症状持续超过8周。结果：共有2070名患者入组。样本包括1230名女性（59.4%），男女比例为0.68。年龄中位数为40岁[半四分位数范围（SIR）： 12.5岁]。新冠肺炎后综合征患病率为41.6% （n = 861）。其中229例（26.5%）因持续症状就诊，122例（14.13%）接受了进一步的临床外评估。最常见的报告症状是老年痴呆（68.9%），认知困难（包括注意力集中和记忆障碍）（24.9%）和疲劳（17.4%）。与covid - 19后综合征显著相关的独立因素包括：年龄在60岁以下(AOR = 1.8；95% CI: 1.50-2.66)，女性(AOR = 1.6；95% CI: 1.35-1.96)、慢性呼吸系统疾病史(AOR = 1.8；95% CI: 1.2-2.8)，癌症史(AOR = 3.5；95% CI: 1.03-12.2)，抗凝治疗(AOR = 1.45；95% CI: 1.1-1.8)，水杨酸使用(AOR = 1.4；95% CI: 1.1-1.9)，初始临床严重程度为轻度(AOR = 5.5；95% CI: 3.5-8.5)或中度(AOR = 7.1；95% ci: 4.2-11.9)。结论：更好地了解COVID-19的长期表现，如COVID-19后综合征，至关重要。在广泛接种疫苗和不断演变的变体的背景下，必须重新考虑多学科方法，以改善患者随访和医疗保健策略。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Hospital Topics Medicine-Medicine (all)

CiteScore

1.90

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： Hospital Topics is the longest continuously published healthcare journal in the United States. Since 1922, Hospital Topics has provided healthcare professionals with research they can apply to improve the quality of access, management, and delivery of healthcare. Dedicated to those who bring healthcare to the public, Hospital Topics spans the whole spectrum of healthcare issues including, but not limited to information systems, fatigue management, medication errors, nursing compensation, midwifery, job satisfaction among managers, team building, and bringing primary care to rural areas. Through articles on theory, applied research, and practice, Hospital Topics addresses the central concerns of today"s healthcare professional and leader.