Evidence check: the medium and long-term sequelae of COVID-19, New South Wales Government COVID-19 Critical Intelligence Unit

Rapid review question: What are the medium- and long-term health sequelae of COVID-19 infection among survivors? In brief: General health sequelae • Symptoms commonly reported among recovered COVID-19 patients two to eight weeks after the onset of symptoms (or a positive COVID-19 test) include: fatigue, shortness of breath, muscle or joint pain, chest pain, cough, and insomnia and/or sleep disorders.(1-6) • A study of 202 confirmed COVID -19 patients with mild symptoms, found altered sense of smell or taste occurred in 18.6% of patients, feelings of being tired in 13.1%, problems breathing in 10.4% and muscle or joint pains in 7.7%.(2) Another study of 143 patients reported fatigue in 53.1%, dyspnea in 43.4%, joint pain in 27.3%, an d chest pain 21.7% of patients.(1) • A study conducted among discharged intensive care unit (ICU) and ward COVID-19 patients found that post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and/or depression, voice change, laryngeal sensitivity, new continence problems and dysphagia were commonly reported amo ng recovered patients.(5) Respiratory health sequelae • Commonly reported respiratory consequences among COVID-19 patients, two to five weeks after the onset of symptoms or being discharged from the hospital included: abnormal carbon monoxide diffusion capacity, abnormal forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), abnormal forced vital capacity (FVC), abnormal FEV1/FVC, small airway dysfunction, abnormal forced inspiratory volume, abnorm...
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news