07 Aug Long-Covid Symptoms Common Even In Asymptomatic or Mild Cases

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Bell

Melanie Bell, PhD, MS
Professor
Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health
The University of Arizona

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: In May 2020 my colleagues began a cohort study called CoVHORT, which  aimed to investigate the impacts of the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic among residents of Arizona. The current study on long covid is a sub-study which included all CoVHORT participants who had a confirmed positive COVID-19 test, were not hospitalized, and had symptom data 30 days are longer since the test. We wanted to investigate the prevalence of long covid, also known as post-acute sequalae of COVID-19 (PASC) amongst people who did not experience severe acute infection.

Although the definition is still evolving in the research community, we defined PASC as continuing to experience at least one symptom 30 days or longer post-acute infection.

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

Response: Out of the 303 individuals in the sub-study, we found that 69% were suffering from post-acute sequalae of COVID-19 . The median number of symptoms was 3, with a range of 1 to 20. The most common symptoms were fatigue (38%), shortness of breath (38%), brain fog (31%) and stress/anxiety (31%).

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: Even among asymptomatic, mild and moderate cases of COVID-19, people continued to experience symptoms, some of which can be debilitating and severely interfering with their lives. The best way to avoid long covid is to get vaccinated.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work?

Response: We have heard anecdotal reports, from individuals suffering from long covid, that symptoms decreased significantly following vaccination. We are currently investigating this. We are also investigating factors which contribute to long covid, and long-term chronic sequalae.

I have no disclosures.

Citation:

Melanie L. Bell, Collin J. Catalfamo, Leslie V. Farland, Kacey C. Ernst, Elizabeth T. Jacobs, Yann C. Klimentidis, Megan Jehn, Kristen Pogreba-Brown. Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 in a non-hospitalized cohort: Results from the Arizona CoVHORT. PLOS ONE, 2021; 16 (8): e0254347 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254347

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Last Updated on August 7, 2021 by Marie Benz MD FAAD