Persistent Symptoms among Frontline Health Workers Post-Acute COVID-19 Infection

Abstract

Growing evidence shows that a significant number of patients with COVID-19 experience persistent symptoms, also known as long COVID-19. We sought to identify persistent symptoms of COVID-19 in frontline workers at Right to Care South Africa, who are past the acute phase of illness, using a cross-sectional survey. We analysed data from 207 eligible COVID-19 positive frontline workers who participated in a two-month post-COVID-19 online self-administered survey. The survey response rate was 30%; of the 62 respondents with a median age of 33.5 years (IQR= 30–44 years), 47 (76%) were females. The majority (n = 55; 88.7%) self-isolated and 7 (11.3%) were admitted to hospital at the time of diagnosis. The most common comorbid condition reported was hypertension, particularly among workers aged 45–55 years. The most reported persistent symptoms were characterised by fatigue, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, chest pain, muscle pain, and brain fog. Long COVID-19 is a serious phenomenon, of which much is still unknown, including its causes, how common it is especially in non-hospitalised healthcare workers, and how to treat it. Given the rise in COVID-19 cases, the prevalence of long COVID-19 is likely to be substantial; thus, the need for rehabilitation programs targeted at each persistent COVID-19 symptom is critical.

What is the impact of long-term COVID-19 on workers in healthcare settings? A rapid systematic review of current evidence

“…Overall, the proportions of healthcare workers experiencing long-term symptoms ranged from 23.1% at 6 months after infection [ 12 ] to 73% (in people with a positive nasopharyngeal swab; NPS; median 117 days since infection) [ 36 ]. The most common symptom was fatigue, [ 13 – 16 , 18 – 27 , 29 , 30 , 33 , 35 , 38 , 39 ] with proportions ranging from 4% at 8 months after COVID-19 infection [ 14 ] to 75% at 1 month after COVID-19 infection [ 21 ]. Headache reports [ 14 – 17 , 19 – 21 , 24 , 26 , 29 – 31 , 35 , 39 ] ranged from 0.5% at > 60 days since infection [ 20 ] to 42% at 1 month after infection [ 21 ].…”

“…breathlessness, breathing difficulties, shortness of breath) [ 13 , 15 , 18 – 20 , 24 , 35 , 39 ] depression [ 16 , 19 , 21 , 35 , 37 ] and anxiety. [ 16 , 19 , 20 , 27 , 31 , 35 , 37 ]…”

From Acute Phase to Long COVID: A Cross-Sectional Study of the Epidemiological Profile and Clinical Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Employees at a Pediatric Hospital

“…Only 12.5% of employees had comorbidities, and no correlation was found between the presence of comorbidities and the need for hospitalization, which was extremely low (0.6%) in this study. Other studies in health institutions reported that up to 34% of employees with comorbidities were affected by COVID-19, with a higher hospitalization rate between 11.3% and 12.8% [ 7 , 20 , 21 , 23 ]. It is important to emphasize that the local study was conducted in the southern region of Brazil, which has health indicators such as “Hospitalization for Primary Care-sensitive conditions” that are better than the Brazilian national average.…”

“…The condition of long-term symptoms post-COVID-19 infection, known as long COVID, has generated increasing interest and discussion among researchers [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ] because it affects the quality of life and health of affected individuals. The causes for the maintenance or presentation of new symptoms, even months after acute infection by SARS-CoV-2, are still not fully elucidated, with the hypotheses that they may occur because of viral persistence in the body, autoimmune mechanisms, and dysregulation of the immune system mediated by SARS-CoV-2 superantigens [ 28 ].…”

“…In this context, SARS-CoV-2 reinfections and the manifestation of long-term symptoms, known as long COVID, have also gained notoriety in recent studies [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ], as they affect the quality of life and health even months after the first acute episode of infection.…”