A report on assessment of Post-COVID complications in recovered COVID-19 Patients of Province 2.

Research Report.

SUMMARY:

The infection of SARS-CoV-2 has dramatically affected the global population. More than 4.3 million deaths have been recorded. With already a burden with active infection rate, the potential long-term complications of COVID-19 has added another battle for complete recovery. The potential long-term effects of COVID-19 have been recorded in multiple countries and there are studies that are still ongoing. Post-COVID complications are defined as a wide range of new or returning health problems experienced in four or more weeks after being infected with SARSCoV-2. There is ample clinical as well as scientific evidence that shows sub-acute and long-term complications of COVID-19. The residual effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection include chest pain, cognitive disturbances, fatigue, and decline in overall quality of life. Post COVID symptoms has been persistently reported in many cases after being detected negative also. So, it has to be taken seriously. Many evidence has emerged that shows impairment of physical symptoms as well as psychological symptoms as long-term effects of COVID-19. Though Nepal has been adversely affected by COVID-19, till date there has been no study about post-COVID-19 complications on recovered patients. Thus, there is a need for assessment of symptoms in COVID-19 infected individuals in Nepal. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, frequency and severity of Post-COVID complications among residents of Province 2 of Nepal with history of COVID-19 infection. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using quantitative methods. A total of 374 respondents were sampled for the study purpose. Face to face interview was conducted using structured questionnaires for the data collection purpose. Collected data was entered in MS Excel and checked for its completeness and relevancy. Further analysis was carried out in SPSS. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed to determine frequency, prevalence and interrelationship in between variables associated with Post-COVID complications. This study attempts to unearth the prevailing post-COVID complications among COVID recovered patients. The findings of the study might aid health authorities in devising strategies for effective management of the frequently reported post-COVID complications, which now is being considered as a major public health problem.
Of the total 374 respondents with prior COVID history surveyed in the study, nearly seventy percent suffered from mild grade of COVID-19. A male preponderance was observed with a male to female ration of 2:1. Nearly half of the respondents had received either single or complete dose of COVID-19 vaccine at the time of data collection. Of the 374 individuals interrogated, 166 (44.3%) reported to have experienced symptoms associated with the post-COVID complications persisting for more than twelve weeks of infection. Fatigue, weakness, myalgia, dyspnea, SOB, anxiety, cognitive impairment and unexplained hair fall were the common presenting complications.