Abstract
The most common persistent symptoms in recovered COVID-19 patients were fatigue and loss of sense of smell or taste, according to a new study. Researchers at the University of Washington, Seattle, surveyed 177 patients three to nine months after they were confirmed to have the infection, as well as a set of uninfected controls.
Long COVID has become a syndrome on its own, as many people who are infected by this virus go on to experience long term side effects which include fatigue, headaches, brain fog, memory loss, gastrointestinal problems, muscle aches, and heart palpitations. Some patients have even developed diabetes.
Only about 6% of the COVID-19 patients stayed asymptomatic. Almost 85% had moderate symptoms, but remained outpatients, and 9% had moderate or severe disease that led to re-admission to a hospital.
Among participants with COVID-19, at least one persistent symptom was reported by 32.7% of outpatients and 31.3% of hospitalized patients (31.3%). Of 31 patients with hypertension or diabetes, 35.5% experienced ongoing symptoms. The most common persistent symptoms were fatigue (13.6%) and loss of sense of smell or taste (13.6%).