Hospitalization for COVID-19, Other Respiratory Infections, and Postacute Patient-Reported Symptoms

by admin | Oct 25, 2024 | Evidence-Based Research in Western Medicine Clinical Practice, Scientific reports

By Yaqing Gao et al.

Source Jamanetwork

From a cohort study of 191,710 subjects, including 1,153 hospitalized with COVID-19 and 1304 with other LRTIs (lower respiratory tract infections), COVID-19 hospitalization , versus reference group, was associated with higher risks of 23 of 45 symptoms.

These symptoms were observed across the ear, nose, and throat; respiratory; neurological; gastrointestinal; and musculoskeletal systems. The greatest risk was observed for ageusia.

Other LRTI hospitalizations were also associated with higher risks of 18 of 45 symptoms. The most prominent symptoms were related to the respiratory system.

Compared with other LRTIs, COVID-19 hospitalizations were associated with an increased risk of 7 individual symptoms : anosmia (OR, 1.80), ageusia (1.52), postural tachycardia (1.60), problem of thinking (1.36), bone pain (1.33), mild fatigue (1.19), and severe fatigue (1.49).. Conversely, persistent chest cough was less common for COVID-19.

PAIS (post-acute infection syndrome) is not unique to COVID-19; it can also occur in people with other severe LRTIs.
However, COVID-19 appeared to impose an extra burden of neurological, cognitive, and fatigue symptoms.