BACKGROUND
Long COVID has caused substantial health burdens on COVID-19 patients. Following the changes of COVID-19 prevention and control measures in China at the end of 2022, there was a notable surge in the number of infections. Nevertheless, few studies have been conducted to explore the prevalence and risk factors of Long COVID among patients during this outbreak.
OBJECTIVE
This cross-sectional survey aimed to investigate the prevalence, symptoms, and risk factors of Long COVID among patients in China.
METHODS
We surveyed 533 individuals in China through a systematical questionnaire designed for Long COVID specifically, and a total of 436 COVID-19 patients were included in the analysis. The questionnaire included demographics, vaccination status, comorbidities, self-perceived symptoms, behavioral habits and dietary conditions. Prevalence of Long COVID, frequencies of symptoms, and risk factors were analyzed.
RESULTS
115 (26.38%) patients reported at least one symptom of Long COVID. The six most reported symptoms were fatigue (46.96%), coughing and wheezing (18.26%), attention disorder (18.26%), anxiety (15.65%), hair loss (15.65%) and cough (14.78%). Compared with patients aged 18-29 years, those aged 30-39 years (OR 2.367, 95%CI 1.066-5.256, p < 0.05) had a higher risk of developing Long COVID. Having sleep problems (2.324, 1.462-3.693, p < 0.001) was identified as associated risk factor of Long COVID. Compared to no exercise, engaging in light exercise (0.463, 0.262-0.818, p < 0.01) was identified as associated protective factor.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study revealed that since the outbreak of COVID-19 in China at the end of 2022, many infections have experienced persistent symptoms associated with Long COVID, imposing substantial health burdens on COVID-19 patients. The risk factors associated with Long COVID identified in this study can serve as valuable references for developing effective interventions aimed at facilitating recovery among COVID-19 patients.