AUTHOR=Aldhawyan Adam F. , BuSaad Mohammed A. , Almaghlouth Nawaf E. , Alnasser Abdullah H. , Alnasser Jomana A. , Almansour Abdulelah H. , AlHarkan Khalid S. 

TITLE=Understanding long COVID: prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1459583

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2024.1459583

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=<sec id="sec1"><title>Background</title><p>The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly raised public health concerns and efforts to limit its spread, impacting societies and health systems worldwide. As challenges persist, the emergence of Long COVID (LC) marks a turning point in understanding the pandemic’s long-term effects.</p></sec><sec id="sec2"><title>Aim</title><p>This study aimed to determine the prevalence of LC in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and explore factors contributing to its persistence.</p></sec><sec id="sec3"><title>Methods</title><p>This descriptive, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was carried out between December 1, 2023, and March 1, 2024, involving 1,355 patients who recovered from COVID-19. Participants were conveniently chosen and information was gathered through in-person interviews in public settings after obtaining consent.</p></sec><sec id="sec4"><title>Results</title><p>A majority of the patients (<italic>N</italic> = 1,355; 47.5% female; 93.8% Saudis; mean Age ± SD 33.13 ± 12.60 years) had received three COVID-19 vaccine doses (89.5%). Women experienced 17.4% more LC symptoms than men (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001). The risk of having a higher symptom count increased by 42.5% 12 months after acute COVID-19 infection compared with baseline (&lt;3 months, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001). A higher body mass index (BMI) was associated with more symptoms (1.1% increase per unit, <italic>p</italic> = 0.004). More acute-phase symptoms correlated with more LC symptoms (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001). Higher educational attainment reduced LC risk by 33% (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001). Finally, age and vaccination status had no effect on LC symptoms count (<italic>p</italic> &gt; 0.05).</p></sec><sec id="sec5"><title>Conclusion</title><p>Sociodemographic and clinical factors contribute differently to the chances of having LC and the count of symptoms. Awareness of such factors could provide insight into improving management, leading to better health outcomes.</p></sec>