One-year follow-up of post-discharge symptoms of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 receiving inpatient treatment in the hospital

Aim: In our study, we aimed to investigate which symptoms were observed after discharge in patients who received inpatient treatment at Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine Hospital due to COVID-19 between 15 March 2020 and 30 October 2020, and how long these symptoms continued. Materials and Methods: 386 patients who were hospitalized at Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine Hospital with a diagnosis of COVID-19 between March 15, 2020 and October 30, 2020 and were discharged with full recovery were included in the study. Patients with any psychiatric disease, cognitive diseases such as dementia or Alzheimer's, those who did not want to answer the questions, those who were deceased, and those who were under 18 years of age were excluded from the study. In addition to demographic data such as age and gender, patients'; demographic data such as age and gender, symptom at first admission to the hospital, PA AC and thorax CT finding, COVID PCR result dates, duration of hospital stay, unit where the patient was hospitalized (intensive care unit, service), comorbidities and medications administered due to COVID-19 were recorded in the data collection form. In the third month of their PCR positivity, the patients were contacted at the outpatient clinic or by phone, and the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) questionnaire, Beck anxiety and depression scales were administered. Along with the scales, patients were asked about their symptoms and their answers were recorded. Patients who reported having symptoms at the third month visit were included in subsequent visits. Subsequent visits were made at the 6th and 12th months of PCR positivity. The patients were asked about their symptoms and their answers were recorded. Results: Our study included 386 patients and was completed with 210 patients after excluding 176 patients who did not meet the criteria. While 91.9% of the patients had any symptoms upon admission, fever was observed in 34.8%, fatigue was observed in 27.1%, cough was observed in 25.7% and shortness of breath was observed in 20%. During the third month follow-up, 35 patients (16.7%) had fatigue, 26 patients (12.4%) had shortness of breath, and 11 patients (5.2%) had cough. At the sixth month follow-up, 17 patients (8.1%) had shortness of breath and 12 patients (5.7%) had fatigue, 3 patients (1.4%) had forgetfulness, 1 patient (0.5%) had sleep disturbance, and 1 patient had sleep disturbance. It was determined that hair loss occurred in (0.5%). 19 patients (9%) stated that they were diagnosed with a new disease at the sixth month follow-up. During the twelfth month follow-up, shortness of breath was detected in 20 patients (9.5%), fatigue in 7 patients (3.3%), sleep disturbance in 2 patients (1%) and forgetfulness in 1 patient (0.5%). It was observed that 3 people (1.4%) had a new disease. Beck Depression, Beck Anxiety and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) scores measured at the third month follow-up; median Beck depression score 4 (IQR: 1- 8), Anxiety score 4 (IQR: 1-10) and PTSD score 3 (IQR: 0-11) were calculated. Minimal depression was observed in 170 patients (81.3%), mild depression in 25 patients (12%), moderate depression in 10 patients (4.8%) and severe depression in 4 patients (1.9%). The anxiety level of 56.9% of the patients was mild, 27.7% was moderate and 15.4% was severe. 155 patients (74.2%) had mild, 22 patients (10.5%) had moderate, 18 patients (8.6%) had severe, and 14 patients (6.7%) had moderate-severe PTSD. Conclusion: At the end of the one-year follow-up, the patients' symptoms continued to decrease. Additionally, our study found that COVID infection can have various psychiatric effects on patients.