Post-COVID-19 symptoms in a community sample: Exploratory study in two Chilean cities, 2023–2024

IF 4 3区医学 Q1 INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Journal of Infection and Public Health Pub Date : 2025-08-14 DOI:10.1016/j.jiph.2025.102929

Xaviera Molina , Camila Awad , Muriel Ramírez-Santana , Paola Rubilar , Mauricio Apablaza , Loreto Nunez-Franz

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

SARS-CoV-2 infection affects health, well-being, and the economy, especially considering the persistence of symptoms following an acute episode. This study aims to (1) estimate the frequency of symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infections, (2) characterize symptoms compatible with post-COVID-19 conditions, and (3) explore risk factors for persistent symptoms among individuals from two Chilean cities diagnosed with COVID-19 at least once.

Methods

This cross-sectional exploratory study involved a convenience sample of individuals who participated in a prior seroprevalence study in Chile. Participants were recruited by phone between November 2023 and January 2024, and self-reported persistent COVID-19 symptoms using the modified Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale, which assessed symptom severity and functional disability across three dimensions. Bivariate analysis explores the association between sociodemographic and health variables and reported symptoms using the Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Two Negative binomial models (Model 1: clinical factors and Model 2: clinical plus sociodemographic factors) evaluated factors associated with the severity of post-COVID-19 symptoms.

Results

Of the 144 participants successfully contacted, 83 met the inclusion criteria. A total of 80.7 % reported symptoms consistent with post-COVID-19. The most frequently reported symptoms were sleep disturbances (59.7 %), anxiety (59.7 %), and memory problems (58.2 %). Only three participants had received a formal post-COVID diagnosis, and none were receiving care through Chile’s universal post-COVID program. Symptom severity was significantly higher in women (p = 0.04), individuals with two or more COVID-19 episodes (p = 0.04), and those with comorbidities (p = 0.02). Negative binomial regression analysis indicated that multiple COVID-19 episodes were associated with greater symptom severity.

Conclusions

A high percentage of participants experienced post-COVID-19 symptoms. Despite the high symptom burden, access to formal diagnosis and care was minimal, highlighting the need to strengthen diagnostic and management protocols within the Chilean healthcare system.

查看原文本刊更多论文

社区样本中的covid -19后症状：2023-2024年智利两个城市的探索性研究

背景：sars - cov -2感染影响健康、福祉和经济，特别是考虑到急性发作后症状的持续存在。本研究旨在(1)估计SARS-CoV-2感染后症状的频率，(2)表征与COVID-19后症状相容的症状，以及(3)探索来自智利两个城市的至少一次被诊断为COVID-19的个体持续症状的危险因素。方法：本横断面探索性研究选取了在智利参加过血清患病率研究的个体作为方便样本。参与者在2023年11月至2024年1月期间通过电话招募，并使用改进的约克郡康复量表自我报告持续的COVID-19症状，该量表从三个维度评估症状严重程度和功能残疾。双变量分析利用Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon和Kruskal-Wallis检验探讨社会人口统计学和健康变量与报告症状之间的关系。两个负二项模型（模型1：临床因素和模型2：临床加社会人口因素）评估了与covid -19后症状严重程度相关的因素。结果在成功联系的144名参与者中，83名符合纳入标准。总共80.7 %报告了与covid -19后一致的症状。最常见的症状是睡眠障碍（59.7% %）、焦虑（59.7% %）和记忆问题（58.2% %）。只有三名参与者接受了正式的covid后诊断，没有人通过智利的普遍后covid计划接受治疗。症状严重程度在女性（p = 0.04）、两次或两次以上的COVID-19发作（p = 0.04）和合并合并症（p = 0.02）中显著较高。负二项回归分析显示，多次发作与症状严重程度相关。结论高比例的参与者出现了covid -19后症状。尽管症状负担很高，但获得正式诊断和护理的机会很少，这突出表明需要加强智利卫生保健系统内的诊断和管理方案。

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

Journal of Infection and Public Health PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH -INFECTIOUS DISEASES

CiteScore

13.10

自引率

1.50%

发文量

203

审稿时长

96 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Infection and Public Health, first official journal of the Saudi Arabian Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences and the Saudi Association for Public Health, aims to be the foremost scientific, peer-reviewed journal encompassing infection prevention and control, microbiology, infectious diseases, public health and the application of healthcare epidemiology to the evaluation of health outcomes. The point of view of the journal is that infection and public health are closely intertwined and that advances in one area will have positive consequences on the other. The journal will be useful to all health professionals who are partners in the management of patients with communicable diseases, keeping them up to date. The journal is proud to have an international and diverse editorial board that will assist and facilitate the publication of articles that reflect a global view on infection control and public health, as well as emphasizing our focus on supporting the needs of public health practitioners. It is our aim to improve healthcare by reducing risk of infection and related adverse outcomes by critical review, selection, and dissemination of new and relevant information in the field of infection control, public health and infectious diseases in all healthcare settings and the community.