Risk Factors Associated with Long Covid Experience of the Virology, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Center

Elbnaissi Y*, Elbouaiti A, Roufik I, Aadi Y, Amraoui F, Sefssafi Y, Aouni Y, Tahani K, Tounkara S, Camara M, Hamdouni I, Ech-chaabi M, Rais H, Elkifani R, Kasmy Z, Reggad A, Elqatni M and Ennibi K
 

Biomedical Research and Epidemiology Unit (URBE), Center of Virology, Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Morocco

^*Correspondance to: Yassine Elbnaissi  

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Abstract:

Background: A large number of covid-19 patients experience prolonged symptoms, called long covid. Few systematic national studies have been carried out, especially in outpatient settings. As a result, little is known about the types and severity of symptoms, the clinical course, and the predictive factors linked to this condition. The aim of this study was to identify the characteristics and predictors of long covid among our patients during the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron wave. Methodology: This was a prospective observational cohort study conducted over 12 months (October 2022 to October 2023). We recruited adult patients (aged 18 years or older) in whom a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection had been confirmed by Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and who had been admitted to the Centre for Virology, Infectious and Tropical Diseases (CVMIT) or were being treated as outpatients. Eligible patients were followed up by telephone four weeks after diagnosis of the infection to collect their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, as well as their vaccination history. The characteristics of long covid have been described, and a multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the predicting factors for long covid. Results: A total of 287 patients participated in this study. Of these, 182 (63.4%) were men with a mean age of 47 years. The mild form of the disease was predominant in our patients (97.5%), and 57 (20.4%) were asymptomatic. The prevalence of long covid was 16% (N=46). Based on the clinical manifestations, the most frequently reported persistent symptoms were asthenia, chronic cough, chest tightness, dyspnea, chronic diarrhea, and headaches. Statistically significant predictors of long covid at four weeks of follow-up were female sex and the presence of at least one comorbidity, especially chronic pulmonary disease. Conclusion: A significant proportion of long covid cases have been identified among patients with covid-19. Further research is needed in this area to objectively assess symptoms and identify predictors of long covid.  

Keywords:

Long covid; Epidemiology; Risk factors

Cite the Article:

Elbnaissi Y, Elbouaiti A, Roufik I, Aadi Y, Amraoui F, Sefssafi Y, et al. Risk  Factors Associated with Long Covid Experience of the Virology, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Center. Clin Case Rep Int. 2026; 10: 1785..