doi: 10.56294/saludcyt2024.923

ORIGINAL

Study of the duration of the post-covid effects and associated risks among doctors

Estudio de la duración de los efectos postcovídicos y los riesgos asociados entre los médicos

Divya. V¹ *, Ioana Roxana Codru² *, Vasu Saini³ *, Parthkumar Devmurari⁴ *, Samaksh Goyal⁵ *, Prabhjot Kaur⁶ *

¹Sri Lalithambigai Medical Collge, Department of General Medicine. Chennai, India.

²Sibiu Romanja Lucian Blaga University, Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care. Sibiu, Romania.

³SGRR IMHS, Department of Pediatrics, Dehradun, India.

⁴RK University, School of Physiotherapy, Rajkot, India.

⁵Quantum University, Uttarakhand, India.

⁶Chitkara University, Centre of Research Impact and Outcome, Punjab, India.

Cite as: V D, Codru IR, Saini V, Devmurari P, Goyal S, Kaur P. Study of the duration of the post-covid effects and associated risks among doctors. Salud, Ciencia y Tecnología. 2024; 4:.923. https://doi.org/10.56294/saludcyt2024.923

Submitted: 26-12-2023                        Revised: 18-04-2024                                       Accepted: 21-08-2024                                  Published: 22-08-2024

Editor: Dr. William Castillo-González

ABSTRACT

Research to investigate the duration of symptoms following COVID and danger indicators associated with them among recovered individuals. Given the widespread impact of COVID-19, understanding these aspects is crucial for effective management and support for those affected. Researchers conducted phone interviews with 186 healthcare professionals who were COVID-19-recovered.To evaluate the association between pre-existing conditions, demographic variables, and the probability of enduring long-term COVID-19 effects, logistic regression (LR) analysis was used. Analysis of the data revealed that a significant proportion of individuals experienced multiple acute post-COVID symptoms, with exhaustion being the most commonly reported (44,1 %). Risk factors for prolonged post-COVID symptoms were identified through logistical regression analysis, with female sex and pre-existing medical conditions being associated with increased odds ratios (OR) (OR, 2, 18; 96 % CI, 1,09-4,78; p-value 0,031, OR 2,78; 94 % CI, 1,26-6,07). This study highlights the frequency of both transient and chronic symptoms of COVID-19 among medical doctors who have recovered from the disease. The findings suggest that female sex and pre-existing medical conditions are significant risk factors for experiencing prolonged post-COVID effects.

Keywords: Post-Covid Symptom; COVID-19; Risk Factors; Duration; Medical Doctors.

RESUMEN

Investigar la duración de los síntomas tras la COVID y los indicadores de peligro asociados a ellos entre los individuos recuperados. Dado el amplio impacto de la COVID-19, la comprensión de estos aspectos es crucial para la gestión eficaz y el apoyo a los afectados. Los investigadores realizaron entrevistas telefónicas a 186 profesionales sanitarios que se habían recuperado de la COVID-19. Para evaluar la asociación entre las afecciones preexistentes, las variables demográficas y la probabilidad de padecer efectos de la COVID-19 a largo plazo, se utilizó un análisis de regresión logística (RL). El análisis de los datos reveló que una proporción significativa de individuos experimentó múltiples síntomas agudos post-COVID, siendo el agotamiento el más comúnmente reportado (44,1 %). Mediante un análisis de regresión logística se identificaron factores de riesgo de síntomas posCOVID prolongados, asociándose el sexo femenino y los trastornos médicos preexistentes con un aumento de las odds ratio (OR) (OR, 2,18; IC del 96 %, 1,09-4,78; p-valor 0,031, OR 2,78; IC del 94 %, 1,26-6,07). Este estudio pone de relieve la frecuencia de síntomas tanto transitorios como crónicos de COVID-19 entre los médicos que se han recuperado de la enfermedad. Los hallazgos sugieren que el sexo femenino

y las condiciones médicas preexistentes son factores de riesgo significativos para experimentar efectos prolongados post-COVID.

Palabras clave: Síntomas Post-COVID; COVID-19; Factores de Riesgo; Duración; Médicos.

INTRODUCTION

Healthcare Professionals (HCP) might experience a wide range of psychological consequences as a result of pandemics. As demonstrated when the Ebola viruses infection and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemics, posttraumatic symptoms.⁽¹⁾ This might be as a result of anxiety and fear of infection brought on by increased risk of exposure or by concern for affecting families and young children.⁽²⁾ Politics, economic, social, and physical variables affecting medical care must also be included in a comprehensive understanding of public health. words, the epidemic served as further evidence that health is equally a politics, society, and economic normative issue as it is an individual one.^(3,4) COVID-19 effects are a condition that typically appears three months. Long-term COVID symptoms include difficulty breathing, sadness, exhaustion, and memory loss, soreness after physical exertion, and other negative impacts and consequences.⁽⁵⁾ Reduced social interaction had a substantial negative impact on both personal and professional life mental health.^(6,7)

 India’s pandemic preventive activity has become routine while a global epidemic in other countries is still not fully below management and fresh imported cases continue to emerge.⁽⁸⁾ Research aimed to examine the duration of the symptoms following COVID and danger indicators associated with them among recovered individuals. Article ⁽⁹⁾ presented a greater depth of understanding of post-COVID problems may not only enhance long-term patient outcomes but may also shed light on possible acute illness therapies that could be implemented to prevent long-term effects on patient standard of life. The goal of review is to evaluate and synthesize the most recent pre- and post-coronavirus disease ⁽¹⁰⁾ COVID-19 research on nurse turnover. Long-standing ⁽¹¹⁾ practices been temporarily modified by regulatory and insurers policies to enable these changes, realizing the necessity for a comparison of the expenses and advantages of attention during times of crisis. Article ⁽¹²⁾ proposed COVID-19 pandemic response that is effective must include medical personnel response. Paper ⁽¹³⁾ reviews the occurrence of cardiac arrhythmias and their underlying diseases, including myocardial harm that occurs directly and aberrant side effects that have an effect on cardiac electric instability. Study ⁽¹⁴⁾ examines the COVID-19 epidemic in Iran is examined in this study, and based on the lessons acquired; it is hypothesized that the event may have an effect on future responses to other ailments and managing risks for disasters. Research,⁽¹⁵⁾ presented the investigation that who were contacted by SARS-CoV-2 for a minimum of six months and were to be assessed for health utilization. Paper ⁽¹⁶⁾ examined the look into how COVID-19 affects numerous aspects of industry, energy, and the medical field. The paper ⁽¹⁷⁾ examinations, follow-ups, and operations are related in part to different state medical councils or health authority’s regulations. Study ⁽¹⁸⁾ suggested protease inhibitor (PI) darunavir (DRV) was commonly recommended, according to international recommendations, as an essential part of treatment protocols. Research ⁽¹⁹⁾presented an extensive investigation to recognize a popular plants and potential plant compounds. Article ⁽²⁰⁾ presented COVID-19 virus that was genetically distinct, exerts an enormous effect on the world’s health. The experimental outcome shows the collective method was superior in terms of accuracy compared to other independent categorization methods.

METHOD

One of the groups most susceptible to contracting COVID-19 is the medical profession. Our study’s objectives were to ascertain the risks for long periods of time symptoms following COVID the incidence of Severe and long-term signs of COVID amongst recovering doctors of medicine.

Study Design

Medical practitioners that contracted COVID-19 were the subject of this descriptive analysis. The average number of days the time period from the patients’ identification of COVID-19 to the day of data collection was 123, 3 (21,5). This was determined by an SARS-CoV, the severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by coronavirus, was detected by RT-PCR Technique. The study subjects were selected under the presumption that physicians would be more educated about the scientific characteristics more inclined to have COVID-19 provide pertinent information compared to people in general.

Study Population and Sampling

Study collection of 540 physicians whose COVID-19 RT-PCR test results were optimistic. The list included contact information and cell phone numbers. The number of samples collected was 193, with a 7 % margin of error. It is unknown how many people who have been diagnosed with the virus may have post-COVID-19 consequences. Data from the list of medical professionals who tested positive for COVID-19 were chosen at random uses the Statistical Package forSocial Sciences (SPSS) software.

Data Collection

Over the course of three weeks, the data were gathered by telephone interviews. Data collectors were instructed on how to introduce oneself, discuss the nature for the study, obtain using cellphones to gather data with informed approval during a five-day training program. Each entrant’s time was allocated in advance by the data collectors, and each one lasted approximately 15 minutes. The clinico-demographic profile comprised information on age, sex, coexisting diseases, history of nicotine, hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) assistance, and in the midst of a severe COVID-19 infection. Smoking habits were divided into three categories: never smoked former and current smoker. Persons were deemed to have related complications if had a bacterial confection, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), Rapid cardiac damage, abrupt kidney damage, multiple organ failure, pneumonia, or shock within the initial stages of COVID-19 disease.

Data Analysis

Frequencies and percentages were calculated as overall summary metrics for the categorical variables. The numerical results were described by averaging (standard deviation) the arithmetic means. To assess the link between explanatory factors and any persistent post-COVID symptoms, to employed in LR model, the factors with p<0,04, and factors was multivariate prototype that significantly affected the results factors identified in empirical research. It was determined that the integrate-correlation coefficient (0, 135) with all of the other variables was adequate. The corresponding 95 percent confidence intervals (CI) and probability ratios were indicated. SPSS were used to examine the data. The p-value was deemed useful at the 3 % level.

RESULTS

A total of 186 specialists were questioned, with an answer rate of 73,3 %.

Clinico-Demographic Characteristics

The participants’ mean (SD) age was 33, 8 (8,9) decades with age ranges between 25 to 76. Asthma and hypertension were the most frequently reported concomitant conditions, each affecting around one-third of patients. 20 % of individuals need a hospital stay and 1,6 % needed to be transferred to the intensive care unit. Lastly, two, and no less than one feeling after COVID were present in 69,8 %, 39,7 %, and 23,2 % of cases, as well table 1.

Table 1. Post-COVID Symptom Duration (N = 186)
Variables	Frequency	Percentage
Duration (in months accomplished)
< 51	166	81,1
51 to 58	12	6,6
≥61	10	3,5
Sex
Male	125	77,3
Female	61	22,7
Comorbidity
None	115	51,7
Asthma	38	28,6
Hypertension	25	25,3
Diabetes	12	6,3
Thyroid disease	8	2,4
An ischemia heart problem	4	2,3
Smoking status
Non-smoker	150	72,5
Current smoker	27	24,6
The problem in the initial phase	15	6,2
necessary hospitalisation	40	21,6
Required ICU support	5	2,8
Post-COVID symptoms
a minimum of one indication	128	58,7
Two or additional signs	74	48,6
at least three signs	45	32,3

Post-COVID symptoms and duration

Following acute phase, individuals stated that the majority of their symptoms after recovering from COVID-19 diminished within a period of thirty days. Fewsymptoms, such as weariness (7,2 %), breathing problems (5,4 %), lack of focus (3,7 %), hair loss (3,2 %), memory problems (2,3 %), sleep disruption (3,8 %), bone ache, too (2,5 %), however, remained for more than A period of 60 days, that remains even after the individual has completely recuperated are shown in table 2.

Table 2. Time span for post-acute COVID effects (N=186)
Post-COVID symptoms	When the share-acute timing, permanence
	Members’ recurrence a majority a
		Abrupt post-COVID syndromes		Prolonged after-COVID effects
Total N=186		<30 days	31-60 days	> 60 days
Pulmonary and cardiovascular
Having difficulty inhaling	21 (8,4)	5 (1,8)	6 (1,1)	10 (8,3)
Cough	10 (8,3)	8 (3,6)	4 (3,3)	-
Palpitation	13(5,9)	7 (6,8)	4 (3,3)	-
Chest pain	5 (2,7)	5 (3,8)	3 (0,6)	3 (0,6)
Rhinorrhea	4 (1,1)	4 (3,3)	-	-
Throat irritation	2 (0,5)	3 (0,7)	-	-
Neurological and psychiatric
Tiredness	82 (41,0)	57 (27,4)	12(6,4)	13 (7,1)
Sleep disturbance	23 (15,6)	19 (7,4)	3(0,6)	5 (1,8)
Lack of concentration	20 (13,6)	8(7,6)	5 (3,8)	11 (6,4)
Memory lapses	11 (6,0)	6 (4,4)	3 (0,7)	6(2,5)
Headache	10 (3,5)	10 (6,1)	5 (3,8)	3(0,3)
Anosmia	10(4,7)	5 (1,6)	6 (4,4)	-
Irritabilit	6(2,5)	4 (5,4)	-	2 (1,1)
Loss of taste	8(5,2)	6 (4,4)	3(0,7)	3 (0,3)
Depressed mood	5 (4,83)	1 (4,8)	-	-
Anxiety	5 (3,8)	4 (3,3)	-	3 (0,7)
Vertigo	4 (3,3)	4 (3,3)	-	-
Gastrointestina
Loss of appetite	9 (5,6)	8 (5,4)	-	3 (0,7)
Weight loss	6(4,4)	2 (4,4)	-	-
Diarrhoea	5 (3,6)	5(3,8)	-	-
Abdominal pain	3(0,7)	3(0,7)	-	-
Nausea	3 (0,7)	-	3 (0,7)	-
Musculoskeletal
Muscle pain	14 (8,3)	10(3,2)	-	-
Joint pain	6 (6,5)	8 (4,9)	-	5 (3,4)
Cutaneous
Hair fall	11 (6,6)	3 (0,8)	-	6 (2,5)
Rash	4(3,3)	4 (3,3)	-	-

Variables contributing to sustained post-COVID effects

Considering various topics, 43 (32,6 %) acknowledged having experienced at least one persistent COVID effect after. The modified linear regression model for any long-lasting indicators of COVID revealed that those who participated who were female were 3,88 times more likely than participants who were male to experience long post-COVID symptoms (OR, 3,68; 95 % CI, 2,37-5,05; p-value: 0,020). Persons with coexisting diseases were 2,28 times more possible than non-participants experience ongoing Subsequent symptoms (3,38; 95 % CI, 2,06-3,68; p: value, 0, 020). Compared to others, instances a higher possibility of persistent post-acute effects (OR, 3,36; 95 % CI, 2,07-4,79; 0, 020 as the significance level) table 3.

Number of patients with shock

A 49 of the participants reported experiencing at least one post-acute COVID-19 symptom, with extreme fatigue (36 %), dyspnea (21 %), neurocognitive challenges trouble concentrating, and “brain fog” (25 %), headaches (32 %), and joint pain (24 %) being the most prevalent (figure 1). Living in dread the effect of prolonged COVID on participants’ confusion life, obtaining GP care, and ways for enhanced services to promote recovery from long COVID were the four themes that arose from the interviews. The reported COVID-19 symptoms during the acute and post-acute phases are shown in figure 1.

Table 3. Determinants of prolonged post-COVID syndrome (N=186)
Variables	Long-Lasting Afterwards Sign
	Unadjusted Odds	Adjusted Odds A
Lifespan	3,05 (0,96-1,08)	3,05 (0,97-3,09)
Gender
Man	Referent
Woman	4,48 (1,25-2,91)b	4,77 (3,26-4,08)b
Comorbidity
Absent	Referent
Presented	4,56 (3,27-8,18)c	4,26 (3,06-2,77)b
Previous cigarettes
Smoke abstainer	Referent
Active smoker	0,37 (0,13-1,42)	0,64(0,18-4,36)
A problem in the beginning
No	Referent
Yes	4,18 (0,68-4,96)	4,8 (0, 609-9,283)
Hospital admission
No	Referent
Yes	3,17 (0,55-4,73)	3,06 (0,44-4,57)

Figure 1. Acute and post-acute COVID-19 symptoms that were reported

DISCUSSION

According to our study, despite getting better after an illness, 24 % of those surveyed retained at least one sign for more than 60 days an acute illness, and 70 % of patients experienced effects after COVID. Discovered that 87 % COVID-19 hospitalized healthcare participant’s has residual issues, with 43 % having nearly 55 % of individuals experience has three following duration of 60 days after starting of problems. Similar to this, 66 % of patients still exhibited long-COVID symptoms 60 days later. In a multi-country investigation, found that roughly 32 % of the people with COVID-19 infection did not recover their prior state of health two to three weeks after their diagnosis. Numerous studies on viral infections, such as MERS and SARS, revealed respiration dysfunction, decreased exercise capacity, psychological issues like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), long duration of six months, individuals can develop depression, anxiety, decline the overall quality of life. The condition persisted in CT findings during duration of seven years subsequent to SARS illness.

CONCLUSIONS

The goal of the research was to measure the post-COVID symptom problem and to prepare healthcare professionals for the upcoming load. Comorbid diseases and female sex are proven to be risk factors for long-lasting COVID symptoms. Counselling the patient about their illness will set expectations because the majority of patients had decreasing symptoms with time. Patients experiencing incapacitating symptoms, however, need to be continuously watched. On the basis of the results of the prospective research, programs for practical rehabilitative and psychiatric treatment need to be created.

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FINANCING

None.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

None.

AUTHORSHIP CONTRIBUTION

Conceptualization: Divya. V, Ioana Roxana Codru, Vasu Saini, Parthkumar Devmurari, Samaksh Goyal, Prabhjot Kaur.

Data curation: Divya. V, Ioana Roxana Codru, Vasu Saini, Parthkumar Devmurari, Samaksh Goyal, Prabhjot Kaur.

Formal analysis: Divya. V, Ioana Roxana Codru, Vasu Saini, Parthkumar Devmurari, Samaksh Goyal, Prabhjot Kaur.

Drafting - original draft: Divya. V, Ioana Roxana Codru, Vasu Saini, Parthkumar Devmurari, Samaksh Goyal, Prabhjot Kaur.

Writing - proofreading and editing: Divya. V, Ioana Roxana Codru, Vasu Saini, Parthkumar Devmurari, Samaksh Goyal, Prabhjot Kaur.