La persistencia de síntomas de la COVID-19 y su diagnóstico en la primera ola de la pandemia en España

Abstract

Introduction. Since the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, at least 10% of those infected may present symptoms that persist beyond 12 weeks, which is called Persistent COVID or Long COVID (LC). Recognition is far from being achieved due, in large part, to doubts regarding the initial diagnosis. This study aims to describe the situation of those affected by CL with respect to their access to diagnostic tests, their result and interpretation, as well as the impact on the diagnosis and the typology of those affected in the first wave of the pandemic in Spain. Material and methods. An online, voluntary, self-completed, anonymized survey was carried out between July 13 and October 14, 2020. Questions regarding age, sex, residence, diagnostic and follow-up tests, as well as the time of persistence of symptoms were included. Results. Of the 2,120 patients, 1,834 met CL criteria, 1,448 women (79%), mean age 43.3 years, and the central 50% were between 36-50 years of age. The mean persistence of symptoms was 185.8 days. They state that 1437 respondents (78.4%) underwent diagnostic tests, in 1,207 (65.8%) it was PCR. The result was positive in 880 people out of the 1207 PCR carried out, which represents 72.9% of the PCR carried out and 48% of the total sample. 46.4%, however, underwent a follow-up PCR. No statistically significant or clinically relevant differences were detected as a function of CRP, neither in relation to symptoms nor the time of their persistence. Discussion. Requiring a positive PCR in the oropharynx at some point in the clinical course of LC patients in the first wave of the pandemic in Spain constitutes an inconsistency with what happened, and a penalty for those affected who were initially denied the test and now they are denied a diagnosis for not providing a positive test result.