Post-COVID-19 Clinical Symptom Frequency and Associated Factors in a Cohort of Patients Discharged from the ICU and Monitored for 12 Months, in Libreville, Gabon

Aims: This study determined the prevalence and evolution of long COVID symptoms in patients hospitalized for severe COVID-19 at the CHUL intensive care unit in Libreville, Gabon.

Study Design: Prospective, longitudinal, study.

Place and Duration of Study: Infectiology Unit, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Libreville Hospitalier Universitaire de LibrevH (CHUL), between January 2021 and January 2022.

Methodology: We included 144 patients (84 men, 60 women; median age 46.4 [16-88] years) hospitalized in the intense care unit for a RT-PCR- confirmed COVID-19 and who have accepted a one-year follow-up. All patients were consulted quarterly for 12 months. During the follow-up, existence, appearance and types of symptoms were sought at 3, 6 and 12-months post-hospitalization.

Results: The prevalence of long COVID-19 was 52.1% (n=75/144). Fatigue (21.3%), cough (20.8%), sleep disorders (16.0%) and anxiety (11.1%) predominated at month-3. The main symptoms reported 6-months after the onset of infection were dyspnea (9.7%; n=14), anxiety (7.6%; n=11), fatigue (6.2%; n=9) and cough (3.5%; n=5). One year after, the persistent symptoms were anxiety (6.5%; n=9), dyspnea (1.4%; n=2). Most participants had only one symptom: 60% at month-3, 79.5% at month-6 and 77.8% at 12-months (p=0.04).

Conclusion: The long COVID is frequent among patients hospitalized for severe form of SARS-COV-2 infection. It is imperative to continue generating information for appropriate prevention and monitoring measures to be adopted in Gabon.