New regular candidates to the emergency department; lasting symptoms after COVID -19: the example of northwestern Syria

Lasting Symptoms Following COVID -19

Abstract

Background

Symptoms decrease during the first 4-weeks after the onset of COVID -19. The situation of patients whose symptoms persist longer or do not seems to be one of the current research topics. In regions with internal turmoil, such as Northwest Syria, emergency departments that carry the burden of emergency and trauma patients were occupied during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the post-discharge symptoms of COVID -19 patients hospitalized by the emergency department in northwestern Syria.

Material Method

Between 07/1/2020 and 01/03/2021, 163 patients who were hospitalized and discharged from the emergency department due to COVID-19 in northwest Syria were included in the study. A questionnaire based on the COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale (C19-YRS) was administered to all patients. The obtained data were processed into the data collection form and analyzed.

Results

After they developed COVID -19, we noted decreased dry cough, loss of taste and smell, headache symptoms, and increased fatigue and joint pain symptoms. We found that patients who were re-hospitalized after COVID -19 infection received longer treatment and those re-hospitalized patients had increased memory impairment, hoarseness, fatigue, and weakness in the post-COVID -19 period.

Conclusion

We think that symptoms and complaints that do not resolve after COVID -19 may be among the common reasons for admission to the emergency department in the future. Emergency departments need to be better prepared to manage persistent COVID -19 symptoms.