Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/131111
Title: Long COVID syndrome : a case-control study
Authors: Xuereb, Rachel-Anne
Borg, Marica
Vella, Kevin
Gatt, Alex
Xuereb, Robert G.
Barbara, Christopher
Fava, Stephen
Magri, Caroline Jane
Keywords: Quality of life
C-reactive protein
Post COVID-19 condition (Disease)
Troponin I
Issue Date: 2025
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd.
Citation: Xuereb, R. A., Borg, M., Vella, K., Gatt, A., Xuereb, R. G., Barbara, C., ... & Magri, C. J. (2025). Long COVID syndrome: a case-control study. The American Journal of Medicine, 138(1), 131-139.
Abstract: Background: Acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes various cardiovascular complications. However, it is unknown if there are cardiovascular sequelae in the medium and long-term. The aim of this study was dual. Firstly, we wanted to investigate symptomatology and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) at medium-term follow-up (6 months post-COVID). Secondly, we wanted to assess whether history of COVID-19 and persistent shortness of breath at medium-term follow-up are associated with ongoing inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and cardiac injury.
Methods: A case-control study was performed. Virologically proven COVID-19 cases and age- and gender-matched controls were interviewed to assess symptoms and HRQoL. Biochemical tests were also performed.
Results: The study comprised 174 cases and 75 controls. The mean age of the participants was 46.1±13.8 years. The median follow-up was 173.5 days (interquartile range 129-193.25 days). There was no significant difference in the demographics between cases and controls. At follow-up, cases had a higher frequency of shortness of breath, fatigue, arthralgia, abnormal taste of food (P <.001), and anosmia. Cases also exhibited worse scores in the general health and role physical domains of the Short Form Survey-36. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was significantly higher in the cases, and there was a positive correlation of hsCRP with time. Significant determinants of shortness of breath were age, female gender and white cell count, troponin I, and lower hemoglobin levels at follow-up.
Conclusion: Post-COVID-19 patients have persistent symptomatology at medium-term follow-up. Higher hsCRP in cases and the positive association of hsCRP with time suggest ongoing systemic inflammation in patients persisting for months after COVID-19.
URI: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/131111
ISSN: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2023.04.022
Appears in Collections:Scholarly Works - FacM&SMed

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