CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LONG-COVID DEVELOPMENT PATTERNS IN PATIENTS OF DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS

Abstract

The aim of the study was to clarify patterns of Long-COVID development after coronavirus disease. Materials and methods. A questionnaire and examination of people with COVID-19 and analysis of medical records were conducted. Taking into account the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 77 women and men who had suffered from coronavirus disease were included in the study group. The questionnaire included questions about age, gender, chronic diseases before the onset of coronavirus disease, vaccination status, complaints and general condition after the disease, medication, smoking, and the subjects' assessment of changes in physical endurance and overall quality of life after coronavirus disease. The comparison group consisted of practically healthy people of the appropriate age. Results. In the period up to 3 months after the coronavirus disease, complaints were mainly from people aged 31-40 years, but with increasing time, older patients (51–60 years) began to predominate. The main groups of complaints (general, respiratory, neuropsychiatric, cardiovascular) were presented by subjects who were mostly vaccinated, with the overall vaccination rate among them exceeding 80%. Diseases of the cardiovascular system were mainly recorded in women aged 51–60 years, regardless of the duration of coronavirus disease. Decreased physical endurance and a general decline in the quality of life according to subjective assessment were observed mainly in women aged 40 to 60 years, with the proportion of vaccinated women being 81.3%. At the same time, the level of smoking among the above groups of subjects was low. Conclusions. The majority of people who reported complaints after coronavirus disease were women. The most common complaints were weakness (46.8%), anxiety (44.2%), mood disorders (41.6%), headache (28.6%), shortness of breath (23.4%), palpitations at rest (23.4%), and dizziness (16.7%). At the same time, there was a smaller proportion of those who reported cognitive impairment (impaired concentration and attention – 7.8%, memory impairment – 14.3%), gastrointestinal disorders (13.0%), and muscle pain (13.0%). The majority were vaccinated (80.0%), and the percentage of smokers was low (18.5%).