Symptom cluster analysis of long COVID-19 in patients discharged from the Temporary COVID-19 Hospital in Mexico City

• Published in: Therapeutic advances in infectious disease Vol. 9
• Main Authors: Wong-Chew, Rosa María, Rodríguez Cabrera, Edwin Xchel, Rodríguez Valdez, Carlos Alberto, Lomelin-Gascon, Julieta, Morales-Juárez, Linda, de la Cerda, Mariana Lizbeth Rodríguez, Villa-Romero, Antonio Rafael, Arce Fernández, Stephanie, Serratos Fernandez, Mariana, Bello, Héctor Herrera, Castañeda, Lidia Moreno, Avendaño, Mónica Arboleya, Hernández-Cruz, Jesús Abraham, Álvarez Martínez, Nelson, Fernanda Contreras, Liza, Rafael González de la Cerda, Luis, Juárez Flores, Arturo, Martínez-Juarez, Luis Alberto, Álvarez-Hernández, Diego-Abelardo, Gallardo-Rincón, Héctor, Fajardo Dolci, German, Tapia-Conyer, Roberto, Valdez-Vázquez, Rafael Ricardo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01-01-2022; Sage Publications Ltd; SAGE Publishing
• Subjects: Alopecia; Cluster analysis; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Mechanical ventilation; Mood; Neurological diseases; Original Research; Patients; Public health; Risk factors; Mexico; COVID-19; long-covid; Mexico; post COVID-19; symptom cluster
• ISSN: 2049-9361; 2049-937X
• DOI: 10.1177/20499361211069264

Introduction:
Several reports have emerged describing the long-term consequences of COVID-19 and its effects on multiple systems.
Methods:
As further research is needed, we conducted a longitudinal observational study to report the prevalence and associated risk factors of the long-term health consequences of COVID-19 by symptom clusters in patients discharged from the Temporary COVID-19 Hospital (TCH) in Mexico City. Self-reported clinical symptom data were collected via telephone calls over 90 days post-discharge. Among 4670 patients, we identified 45 symptoms across eight symptom clusters (neurological; mood disorders; systemic; respiratory; musculoskeletal; ear, nose, and throat; dermatological; and gastrointestinal).
Results:
We observed that the neurological, dermatological, and mood disorder symptom clusters persisted in >30% of patients at 90 days post-discharge. Although most symptoms decreased in frequency between day 30 and 90, alopecia and the dermatological symptom cluster significantly increased (p < 0.00001). Women were more prone than men to develop long-term symptoms, and invasive mechanical ventilation also increased the frequency of symptoms at 30 days post-discharge.
Conclusion:
Overall, we observed that symptoms often persisted regardless of disease severity. We hope these findings will help promote public health strategies that ensure equity in the access to solutions focused on the long-term consequences of COVID-19.