Persistent health complications in COVID-19 hospitalized patients at tertiary care hospital in Western India

BACKGROUND Long coronavirus disease (COVID) is a condition characterized by persistent health issues following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. The condition remains poorly understood, especially in terms of long-term impact on health and the quality of life. This study hypothesized that majority of the discharged patients experience long-term post-COVID-19 complications. AIM To evaluate the long-term post-COVID-19 complications and its impact on the patients’ quality of life. METHODS This retrospective cohort study, with telephonic interview-based follow-up, was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in western India between March and August 2024. The medical records of the patients hospitalized with COVID-19 during the second wave (between March and June 2021) and discharged, were reviewed. The data were collected from the patients via structured telephonic interviews that focused on post-infection sequelae across various bodily systems and was summarized using percentages and proportions. RESULTS A total of 1139 patients who met the inclusion criteria, participated in the study with a follow-up period of three years. Amongst the survivors (n = 1052) at the end of three years, 150 (14.25%) developed new or ongoing diseases after recovery from acute COVID-19, while 51 (4.8%) were still under treatment at the time of follow-up. Amongst these 150 long-COVID-19 patients, pulmonary disease (n = 27, 2.57%), body pain (n = 20, 1.90%), coronary artery disease or angioplasty, and diabetes mellitus (n = 17, 1.61% each), hypertension (n = 16, 1.52%), and fatigue (n = 13, 1.24%) were frequently reported. Although statistically insignificant, the patients who received three or more vaccine doses after the second wave of the pandemic reported slightly lower rates of post-COVID-19 morbidity and treatment requirements. CONCLUSION The current study highlights the burdens of long-term complications following COVID-19 infection, with a broad spectrum of post-infection sequelae. However, the impact of vaccination on the course of development and treatment of long COVID could not be ascertained. This finding emphasizes the need for continued research and healthcare planning to address the persistent impact of COVID-19 upon the survivors.