Journal Article Epublish 2 citations
PubMed: 38919940 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1376030
Post-COVID-19 condition: a sex-based analysis of clinical and laboratory trends.
Front Med (Lausanne) 11:1376030
Authors: Carlos Delfino, M Cecilia Poli, Cecilia Vial, Pablo A Vial, Gonzalo Martínez, Amy Riviotta, Catalina Arbat, Nicole Mac-Guire, Josefina Hoppe, Cristóbal Carvajal, Paula Muñoz Venturelli
Affiliations
- Centro de Estudios Clínicos, Instituto de Ciencias e Innovación en Medicina (ICIM), Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile.
- Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana de Santiago, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile.
- Programa de Inmunogenética e Inmunología Traslacional, Instituto de Ciencias e Innovación en Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Santiago, Chile.
- Unidad de Inmunología y Reumatología, Hospital Roberto del Río, Santiago, Chile.
- Programa de Hantavirus y Zoonosis, Instituto de Ciencias e Innovación en Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Santiago, Chile.
- Departamento de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
- Centro de Informática Biomédica, Instituto de Ciencias e Innovación en Medicina (ICIM), Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile.
- Servicio de Neurología, Departamento de Neurología y Psiquiatría, Clínica Alemana de Santiago, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile.
- The George Institute for Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Abstract
Background and aim
Post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) encompasses long-lasting symptoms in individuals with COVID-19 and is estimated to affect between 31-67% of patients, with women being more commonly affected. No definitive biomarkers have emerged in the acute stage that can help predict the onset of PCC, therefore we aimed at describing sex-disaggregated data of PCC patients from a local cohort and explore potential acute predictors of PCC and neurologic PCC.
Methods
A local cohort of consecutive patients admitted with COVID-19 diagnosis between June 2020 and July 2021 were registered, and clinical and laboratory data were recorded. Only those <65 years, discharged alive and followed up at 6 and 12 months after admission were considered in these analyses. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to explore variables associated with PCC (STATA v 18.0).
Results
From 130 patients in the cohort, 104 were contacted: 30% were women, median age of 42 years. At 6 months, 71 (68%) reported PCC symptoms. Women exhibited a higher prevalence of any PCC symptom (87 vs. 60%, = 0.007), lower ferritin ( = 0.001) and procalcitonin ( = 0.021) and higher TNF levels ( = 0.042) in the acute phase compared to men. Being women was independently associated to 7.60 (95% CI 1.27-45.18, = 0.026) higher risk for PCC. Moreover, women had lower return to normal activities 6 and 12 months.
Conclusion
Our findings highlight the lasting impact of COVID-19, particularly in young women, emphasising the need for tailored post-COVID care. The lower ferritin levels in women are an intriguing observation, warranting further research. The study argues for comprehensive strategies that address sex-specific challenges in recovery from COVID-19.
MeSH
Laboratories, Signs And Symptoms, Covid-19, Ferritins, Sex