The predictors of long COVID-19 syndrome in patients managed in out-patient healthcare settings

Predisposing conditions for long COVID-19 syndrome (LCS) are related mainly to severity of SARS-CoV2 infection. The aim was to identify the predictors of LCS in cases managed in Moldovan healthcare out-patient settings. <bold>Methodology:</bold> prospective, case-control study which included 63 patients with LCS (study group-SG) were compared with 141 cases cured after a PCR confirmed SARS-CoV2 infection (control group-CG) treated in Moldovan out-patient settings in 2023 was conducted. <bold>Results:</bold> women/men rate=3.5/1 in SG vs. 1.3/1 in CG (OR=2.4 CI95%: 1.1-6.1), >55 y.o./<55y.o.=3/1 in SG vs.0.8/1 in CG (OR=12.5 CI95%: 7.2-19.1), urban residence OR=6.1 CI 95%: 3.1-12.1), economical vulnerability OR=3.5 CI95%: 1.5-8.1), lack of health insurance OR=4.2 CI 95%: 2.4-7.2), HIV coinfection OR=8 CI95%: 6.9-12). Predisposing factors for LCS were: comorbid state 53(84%) in SG vs 45(32%) in CG (OR=6.5 CI95%:3.4-8.2), HTA 24(38%) in SG vs 12(8%) in CG, obesity 53(84%) in SG vs 6(5%) in CG, allergical anamnesis 26(41%) in SG vs 5(4%) in CG, active smoking 28(44%) in SG vs. 23(16%) in CG, mild/moderate SARS-CoV2 53(84%) in SG vs 141(100%) in CG and severe only in 10(16%) of SG, with a clinical onset of LCS in <30 days after diagnosed SARS-CoV2 in 17(27%), 4-12 weeks 22(35%) and >12 weeks in 31(49%) cases, with fever in 28(44%), cough 50(79%), dyspnea 42(67%), thoracic pain 28(44%) and increased lab. biomarkers: ESR 23(36%), PCR 22 (35%), LDH 28(44%), D-dimers 23(33%), decreased lymphocytes rate 6(10%) cases. <bold>Conclusions:</bold> predictors of LCS were female gender, age>55, living in urban area, economical vulnerability, comorbid state, being clinicaly expressed with increased laboratory biomarkers.