Long-Term Symptoms after Mild Coronavirus Disease in Healthy Healthcare Professionals: A 12-Month Prospective Cohort Study

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 20; no. 2; p. 1483
• Main Authors: da Costa E Silva, Grazielle Rosa, Moura, Winny Éveny Alves, Dos Santos, Kamila Cardoso, Gomes, Davi Oliveira, Bandeira, Gabriela Nolasco, Guimarães, Rafael Alves, Rosso, Claci Fátima Weirich, Bazilio, Gabriela Silvério, Leite, Vanessa Rafaela Milhomem Cruz, Caetano, Karlla Antonieta Amorim, Carneiro, Megmar Aparecida Dos Santos, Teles, Sheila Araújo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 13.01.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Adult; Anosmia; Asymptomatic; Chronic illnesses; Cohort analysis; Complications; Congestion; Coronaviruses; Cough; Cough - epidemiology; COVID-19; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 vaccines; Delivery of Health Care; Diarrhea; Disease transmission; Dyspnea; Fatigue; Fatigue - epidemiology; Fatigue - etiology; Female; Hair loss; Headache; Headache - epidemiology; Headache - etiology; Headaches; Health care; Health Personnel; Health services; Humans; Infections; Medical personnel; Memory; Myalgia; Nausea; Occupational safety; Olfaction disorders; Pandemics; Pharyngitis; Pharyngitis - epidemiology; Prospective Studies; Respiration; Rhinitis; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Signs and symptoms; Statistical significance; Taste disorders; Brazil; United States > US; COVID-19; symptoms; SARS-CoV-2 infection; long COVID; healthcare workers
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021483

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has changed the course of human history and killed millions of people worldwide. Its long-term consequences remain uncertain. This study aimed to describe the short- and long-term symptoms of COVID-19 among individuals in Goiás, central Brazil, who experienced acute mild or non-symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection during the first wave of the pandemic. This prospective cohort study included 110 healthcare workers, 18 safety workers, and 19 administrative support workers, who were followed up for 12 months after the onset of COVID-19. Most participants were healthy adult female healthcare professionals. At the onset of infection, the major symptoms were headache, myalgia, nasal congestion, cough, coryza, anosmia, ageusia, sore throat, fatigue, diarrhea, and dyspnea. Furthermore, 20.3% of the participants had three or more COVID-19 symptoms that persisted for at least 12 months. These included coryza, congestion, hair loss, sore throat, headache, myalgia, cough, memory loss, anosmia, and fatigue. This study revealed a high prevalence of persistent symptoms of COVID-19 in healthy individuals from central Brazil, which may present an additional burden on healthcare services. Further studies are required to investigate the sequelae of COVID-19 over periods greater than 12 months.