Two months follow-up of patients with non-critical COVID-19 in Cape Town, South Africa
South African Family Practice
| Field | Value | |
| Title | Two months follow-up of patients with non-critical COVID-19 in Cape Town, South Africa | |
| Creator | Mendelsohn, Andrea S. Nath, Nikhil De Sá, Angela von Pressentin, Klaus B. | |
| Description | Background: Approximately 10% of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients will experience long COVID. There is no study of long COVID in mild COVID-19 patients in South Africa. This study aimed, firstly, to describe the prevalence of long COVID in mild COVID-19 patients in Cape Town, and, secondly, to document the impact of COVID-19 on patients’ well-being, work, and their access to long COVID treatment.Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, a random sample of adults diagnosed with mild COVID-19 were called two months post-diagnosis. The participants telephonically completed a standardised survey describing their long COVID symptoms, missed workdays, and health-seeking behaviour. Medical records were reviewed for comorbidities, original COVID-19 symptoms, and treatment.Results: It was found that 60% of patients with mild COVID-19 had ≥ 1 long COVID symptom, while 35% had ≥ 3 ongoing symptoms for two months. Dyspnoea and fatigue were the most common symptoms. The findings revealed that 52% of employed patients missed work and 25% of patients self-reported non-recovery from their COVID-19. Moreover, 24% of patients consulted a clinician for long COVID, but only 7% of patients received long COVID care in the public sector. Of the 17% of patients requiring additional help for long COVID, 56% were interested in assistance by text message or telephonic consultation.Conclusion: Over a half of mild COVID-19 patients experienced at least one long COVID symptom for two months and nearly 20% needed additional medical treatment. Very few patients utilised the public sector for long COVID treatment. There is a great need for long COVID treatment in public healthcare services and patients are receptive to remote care. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 2022-02-10 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/safp.v64i1.5429 | |
| Source | South African Family Practice; Vol 64, No 1 (2022): Part 1; 6 pages 2078-6204 2078-6190 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5429/7210
https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5429/7211
https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5429/7213
https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5429/7214
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