Volume 28, Issue 1 (Iran South Med J 2025)
Iran South Med J 2025, 28(1): 524-541 |
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Darabi A H, Hayati M, Tahmasebi R, Farhadi Bajouli M, Keshavarzi E, Ghasemi Zadeh M, et al . An Investigation in to the Respiratory, Gastrointestinal, and Neurological Symp-toms Associated with Long COVID in Out-patients and Inpatients in Bushehr Prov-ince. Iran South Med J 2025; 28 (1) :524-541
URL: http://ismj.bpums.ac.ir/article-1-2230-en.html
URL: http://ismj.bpums.ac.ir/article-1-2230-en.html
Amir Hossein Darabi1 
, Mahboobeh Hayati1 , Rahim Tahmasebi2 , Mahdieh Farhadi Bajouli1 , Esmaeil Keshavarzi1 , Mokhtar Ghasemi Zadeh1 , Ali Asghar Asadi1 , Mohammad Hashemi1 , Maliheh Saeed Firoozabadi1 , Mohsen Keshavarz *3 , Katayoun Vahdat1
, Mahboobeh Hayati1 , Rahim Tahmasebi2 , Mahdieh Farhadi Bajouli1 , Esmaeil Keshavarzi1 , Mokhtar Ghasemi Zadeh1 , Ali Asghar Asadi1 , Mohammad Hashemi1 , Maliheh Saeed Firoozabadi1 , Mohsen Keshavarz *3 , Katayoun Vahdat1
1- The Persian Gulf Tropical Medicine Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
2- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
3- The Persian Gulf Tropical Medicine Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran ,Keshavarz.m@bpums.ac.ir
2- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
3- The Persian Gulf Tropical Medicine Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran ,
Abstract: (76 Views)
Background: Long COVID refers to the persistence of various symptoms weeks or months after the initial infection with the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), irrespective of the presence of the virus. Given the significance of long COVID on patients' quality of life and its implications for the healthcare system, this study aimed to investigate the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurological signs and symptoms of long COVID in both outpatients and inpatients with COVID-19 in Bushehr Province between 2022 and 2023.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study included 376 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in Bushehr Province, Iran. Patients were identified through PCR testing and invited to the Persian Gulf Tropical Medicine Research Center in Bushehr, Iran. Data was collected via a questionnaire and clinical assessment and analyzed using the SPSS software program.
Results: Respiratory symptoms, especially cough and shortness of breath, were common in patients with long COVID. The prevalence of these symptoms was higher in patients with severe acute COVID-19. The most common neurological symptoms were fatigue, dizziness, and olfactory disorders. Additionally, approximately one-third (29 %) of the study population exhibited at least one gastrointestinal symptom post-COVID-19 infection. The most prevalent symptoms were stomachache and anorexia, respectively.
Conclusion: This study emphasizes the importance of assessing and monitoring respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurological symptoms, which are common and persistent sequelae of COVID-19 infection. Personalized management strategies can improve patients' quality of life and alleviate the burden on the healthcare system. Identifying at-risk patients is crucial for effective prevention and treatment strategies.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study included 376 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in Bushehr Province, Iran. Patients were identified through PCR testing and invited to the Persian Gulf Tropical Medicine Research Center in Bushehr, Iran. Data was collected via a questionnaire and clinical assessment and analyzed using the SPSS software program.
Results: Respiratory symptoms, especially cough and shortness of breath, were common in patients with long COVID. The prevalence of these symptoms was higher in patients with severe acute COVID-19. The most common neurological symptoms were fatigue, dizziness, and olfactory disorders. Additionally, approximately one-third (29 %) of the study population exhibited at least one gastrointestinal symptom post-COVID-19 infection. The most prevalent symptoms were stomachache and anorexia, respectively.
Conclusion: This study emphasizes the importance of assessing and monitoring respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurological symptoms, which are common and persistent sequelae of COVID-19 infection. Personalized management strategies can improve patients' quality of life and alleviate the burden on the healthcare system. Identifying at-risk patients is crucial for effective prevention and treatment strategies.
Type of Study: Original |
Subject:
Virology
Received: 2025/04/29 | Accepted: 2025/07/12 | Published: 2025/10/19
Received: 2025/04/29 | Accepted: 2025/07/12 | Published: 2025/10/19
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