Musculoskeletal Symptoms and Related Factors in Post Acute COVID-19 Patients

• Published in: International Journal of Clinical Practice 2021
• Main Authors: İsmail Güneş Gökmen, Ortanca, Burcu, Uçan, Anıl, Şebnem Eker Güvenç, Fezan Şahin Mutlu, Gökmen, Hatice Merve, Ekim, Ayşe
• Format: Web Resource
• Language: English
• DOI: 10.1111/ijcp.14734

Aim There is a lack of an overview of the factors associated with post acute COVID-19 musculoskeletal symptoms. The aims of this study were:1-to evaluate the most frequent admission symptoms and the frequency of musculoskeletal symptoms in post acute COVID-19 patients; and 2-to determine the related factors with the post acute COVID-19 musculoskeletal symptoms. Methods A total of 280 post acute COVID-19 patients (183-females, 97-males) were enrolled and divided into two groups:1-patients whose musculoskeletal symptoms initiated with or were aggravated by COVID-19 (n=240); 2-patients whose musculoskeletal symptoms did not change with COVID-19 (n=40). The variables were demographic and treatment data, symptoms on admission, post acute COVID-19 symptoms, laboratory results (complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, ferritin, D-dimer), chest computed tomography findings and symptoms during acute COVID-19. Results Most of the patients had fatigue (71.8%), spine pain (70.7%) and myalgia (60.7%). The most common pain region was the back (30.4%). The frequency of dyspnea was 30%, of cough 18.5%, and of chest pain 10.7%. Having any chronic disease (p=0.031), the duration of hospital stay (p=0.016), frequency of back pain during acute COVID-19 (p=0.018), tomography findings and D-dimer (p=0.035) levels were significantly higher, and lymphocyte (p=0.024) levels were significantly lower in the patients whose symptoms began with or were aggravated by COVID-19. Conclusion Back pain was the most frequent symptom on admission. The most common post acute COVID-19 musculoskeletal symptoms were fatigue, spine pain, and myalgia. Lower lymphocyte and higher D-dimer levels, the presence of COVID-19 findings in tomography and back pain during acute COVID-19 infection, higher duration of hospital stay and having chronic diseases were related with post COVID-19 musculoskeletal symptoms. NCT Number: NCT04932889