Objectives: to undertake a multidisciplinary follow-up at 12 weeks after an acute episode of COVID-19 to assess the functional status, persistence of symptoms and immunoserological situation.
Methods: this prospective, observational, single-centre study included outpatients reviewed 12 weeks after an acute infection with SARS-CoV-2. The clinical evaluation included data about the acute episode and epidemiological and clinical variables. The patients were classified as symptomatic or asymptomatic depending on the persistence or otherwise of symptoms. All the patients underwent a full blood test and serology for SARS-CoV-2, as well as imaging tests and spirometry if needed.
Results: The mean age of the 108 patients was 55.5 (SD: 15.4) years and 27.8% were health-care workers; 75.9% presented some type of symptoms, with dyspnoea being the most common. A D-dimer >500 ng/mL was detected in 32 (31.4%) patients. All the patients had antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Being a health-care worker was associated with symptom persistence, with age ≥65 years being a protective factor.
Conclusions: The persistence of symptoms in patents with COVID is usual 12 weeks after the acute episode, especially in patients <65 years and health-care workers. All our patients had developed antibodies by 12 weeks.
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