Many Adults and kids may report shortness of breath after recovery from COVID-19 infection: Study
Research evidence describes new and persistent symptoms and conditions as potential post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC).
In their recent investigation, Yongkang Zhang et al. and colleagues concluded that hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 patients are at higher risk of developing specific symptoms and conditions following acute infection. This study is published in BMC Infectious Diseases.
In this retrospective investigation, scientists analyzed the prevalence of particular symptoms and conditions linked to COVID-19 as potential post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection occurring between 31 to 150 days after a SARS-CoV-2 test in both adults and children with positive and negative test outcomes.
The study used data from electronic health records (EHR) from 43 PCORnet sites participating in a national COVID-19 surveillance program. It involved over 3 million adults and over 675,000 children who underwent a SARS-CoV-2 laboratory test between March 1, 2020, and May 31, 2021, as recorded in their HER. Logistic regression and Cox models were used to calculate the risk and estimate the odds of having symptoms.
Key findings of the study are:
- Out of 3,091,580 adults, 316,249 were SARS-CoV-2 positive, and 2,775,331 were negative.
- Among 675,643 children, 62,131 were positive and 613,512 negative.
- Hospitalized adults and children who had positive tests had increased odds of being diagnosed with more than 1 symptom, with aOR of 1.17 and 1.18 for adults and children, respectively.
- The aOR for shortness of breath in adults and children were 1.50 and 1.40, respectively, 31–150 days following a SARS-CoV-2 test when compared to those who were hospitalized individuals with a negative test.
- Hospitalized adults with a positive test had a higher risk of being diagnosed with ≥ 3 symptoms or fatigue.
- Among hospitalized adults with a positive test, there were higher risks of being newly diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, haematological disorder or respiratory disease with aHR of 1.25, 1.19 and 1.44, respectively.
- Non-hospitalized adults with a positive test also had a greater risk of being diagnosed with specific symptoms or conditions.
We observed that variations in symptoms and conditions after SARS-CoV-2 infection were more pronounced among hospitalized patients than non-hospitalized individuals. This aligns with previous literature indicating that individuals with severe acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, such as those requiring hospitalization, are at increased risk of experiencing post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) symptoms and conditions.
The results of this study have both clinical and public health implications, they added.
Study limitations include underestimating and underestimating prevalence and symptoms using EHR data, different lengths of baseline periods, lower specificity, and non-inclusion of covariates, such as vaccination status.
Reference:
Zhang, Y et al. Association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and select symptoms and conditions 31 to 150 days after testing among children and adults. BMC Infect Dis 24, 181 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-024-09076-8
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