The Burden of Post-COVID-19 Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study of Symptoms and Quality of Life in a Turkish Sample

Abstract

Aim: Post-COVID-19 refers to the period of symptoms and health problems that last longer than 12 weeks after being infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and cannot be explained by other diagnoses. This study aims to determine the symptoms experienced by patients in the post-COVID-19 period and how these symptoms affect their quality of life. Methods: The study was cross-sectional and descriptive, and it was conducted at a tertiary hospital's COVID-19 follow-up outpatient clinic between November 2021 and October 2022. Due to the clinic's policy of accepting only inpatients previously, only patients with proven polymerase chain reaction positivity, inpatient treatment and between 12-52 weeks post-infection were included in the study. The study assessed 77 different symptoms in 145 participants using a comprehensive symptom questionnaire and the European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 3 Level Version Scale. Results: The study included 145 participants with an average age of 62.39±14.71 years. Of the total participants, 56.6% (n=86) were male and 43.4% (n=63) were female. The most common symptom among the participants was fatigue (53.1%), followed by forgetfulness (40%) and dyspnea (26.9%). The study found that the patient's overall quality of life was negatively affected by the symptoms they experienced (p<0.001). The symptoms that most affected the quality of life were sleeping disorder and muscle pain (p<0.001). Conclusion: Even long after infection with COVID-19, patients may be symptomatic, and this may affect their quality of life. Keywords: post-acute COVID-19 syndrome, long-COVID, quality of life, COVID-19