Long COVID symptoms among outpatients with COVID-19: a descriptive study

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe long COVID-19 symptoms in patients receiving outpatient treatment.Materials and Methods: This prospective, observational, descriptive study was conducted in the COVID-19 clinic of a university hospital in February-May 2022. Patients who applied to the outpatient clinic and were diagnosed with COVID-19 were included in the study. Patients were follow up for prolonged COVID-19 symptoms for a 12 -week period. It was investigated whether there was a relationship between long COVID-19 symptoms frequency and gender, age and blood type.Results: At least one long COVID symptom was observed in 23% of 7139 patients included in the study. Myalgia was the most common symptom detected in 4.33% of all patients. Cough and loss of taste/smell were the most common symptoms in women, and dizziness in men. The frequency of 26 of 29 symptoms varied with age. While the symptoms most affected by the Body Mass Index were peripheral neuropathy and tinnitus, the least affected symptoms were loss of taste/smell, anxiety and depression.Conclusion: Long COVID symptoms were widely detected in COVID-19 outpatients. Age, gender and BMI may be factors affecting long COVID symptoms.