Long term follow up findings of COVID-19 cases and determination of permanent disability status

Aims: İn this study, patients who recovered from COVID-19 for whom there is not enough data on its long-term effects; it is aimed to reveal long-term clinical, laboratory and radiological findings, long-term follow-up findings and complications after acute infection. Materials and Methods: Patients who applied to Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Medicine Chest Diseases Outpatient Clinic, recovered from COVID-19 and gave written consent were included in the study. Demographic data, follow-up methods and durations, medications used, peripheral oxygen saturation, mMRC score, 6-minute walking data, ongoing symptoms, laboratory data, radiological findings, complications during follow-up, and anxiety level were recorded. The patients who applied for the first 4 weeks after the diagnosis were followed up at the 1st visit, the patients admitted between the 4th and 12th weeks were followed up at the 2nd visit, and the patients admitted after the 12th week were followed up at the 3rd visit. At the time of admission to the outpatient clinic, the patients were accepted into the study in whichever visit interval they were included in, considering the time elapsed from the diagnosis. Statistical significance level was accepted as p<0.05. Results: With recurrent examinations a total of 520 patients were evaluated, including 190 patients at the first visit, 203 at the 2nd visit, and 127 at the 3rd visit. 54% of the participants were female, 46% male, and the mean age was 54 years. According to the visit intervals, 96.3%, 90.6% and 89.8% of the patients had at least one ongoing symptom, respectively. The most common symptoms are; exertional dyspnea, weakness, cough, chest and back pain, fatigue. The incidence of pathological chest X-ray findings was 41.6%, 35.3%, and 21.8% according to the visit intervals. While the most common pathological radiography finding was ground glass opacities in the early stages, linear/reticular opacities were seen in the late period. The most commonly used treatments in the acute period are; they were listed as favipiravir, acetyl salicylic acid, vitamin D, vitamin C and low molecular weight heparine. Complication rates during follow-up were 4.7%, 23.2%, and 24.4%, respectively, according to the visit intervals, and the most common complication was pulmonary fibrosis. Conclusion: COVID-19 patients who have recovered from the disease have to struggle with ongoing complaints in the long term. In our study, we tried to describe the ongoing symptoms, laboratory and radiological findings, and developing complications of the patients. We think that our study will form a basis for the data of our country and contribute to the literature. Key words: COVID-19, post-COVID, long-COVID