Long-Term Complications After Discharge of Patients With COVID-19: A Cross-sectional Study in Iran

Many patients with COVID-19 complain about the remaining symptoms after being discharged from the hospital. Therefore, monitoring possible complications after contracting COVID-19 can play a significant role in the management of this disease. The purpose of this study was to assess long-term complications in patients with COVID-19.

Patients with COVID-19 who were referred to the hospital from June to November 2021 were examined in our cross-sectional study. Before the discharge of patients, the six-minute walk was performed and the patient’s clinical information was recorded. Then, patients were recalled and analyzed 2 weeks and 1 month after discharge.

Ninety-one patients participated in our study. After 2 weeks, fatigue with a prevalence of 62.6% was the most common clinical symptom residual in patients. In addition, 1 month after discharge, dyspnea (46.4%) and fatigue (35.7%), as well as muscle weakness and anxiety (28.6%), were the most common symptoms. The mean of oxygen saturation was 93.43±3.71 two weeks after discharge and 94.79±2.14 one month after discharge. The distance traveled at 6-minute walk test (6-MWT) was not significantly increased 1 month after discharge (P=0.43). However, the mean of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (P=0.001), forced vital capacity (FVC) average (P=0.002), and total lung capacity (TLC) (P=05) increased significantly after 1 month.

According to the results of this study, in some patients with COVID-19, symptoms such as dyspnea and fatigue remain until 1 month after discharge from the hospital. In such patients, chest computed tomography scans, pulmonary rehabilitation, and patient follow-up can help patients recover faster.