Symptoms and factors associated with exposure to long COVID-19 in inhabitants of the province of Carchi

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify the symptoms and factors associated with post-COVID exposure in the province of Carchi. This is a quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive and cross-sectional cohort study. The sample is made up of 178 people with a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 validated by a laboratory, to which a survey carried out and validated by experts was applied. The most relevant results of long COVID-19 symptoms were: fatigue 33%, persistent infections 31%, muscle aches 19% and loss of smell 19%, followed by cough, joint pain, sore throat, loss of taste with percentages less than 15%. Regarding factors related to post-COVID-19, it was possible to identify that women (66%) are more likely to have sequelae of COVID-19; On the other hand, age, comorbidities and severity in the initial picture can affect the presence and time of symptoms. It is concluded that, for the most part, the studied population does not present effects on their systems; However, less than 40% have some type of alteration in their current state of health at a systematic, sensory organ and immunological level. The factors associated with the prevalence of symptoms after being diagnosed with COVID-19 vary from person to person; After the literature review and comparison with the study carried out, it was identified that sex, age and comorbidities can be triggers for the presence of post-COVID-19.