Complications associated with recovered after COVID-19 in Slovenia: Epidemiological study

Marko Petrović 1, 2, *

1 Health center Izola, Ambulance service, Industrijska cesta 8b, 6310 Izola, Slovenia.
2 University of Primorska, Faculty of health science, Polje 40, 6310 Izola, Slovenia.
 
Research Article
World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 2024, 19(03), 445–452.
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjbphs.2024.19.3.0661
Publication history: 
Received on 09 August 2024; revised on 18 September 2024; accepted on 20 September 2024
 
Abstract: 
Introduction: COVID-19 is an infectious viral disease caused by Sars-cov-2, which affects various organ systems and leads the county in the field of body functions, body structure and, consequently, activity and participation. Since the virus binds to ACE 2 receptors, which are also present in myocytes, intestinal epithelium, vascular endothelium, kidneys and elsewhere, COVID-19 affects not only the respiratory system, but also other organ systems
Aim: The purpose of the study is to determine which complications arise after recovering from COVID-19.
Methods: We use a retrospective review of medical records is a research method that involves analyzing existing medical documentation to gain insights into the course of diseases, treatments, or treatment outcomes. We performed 502 reviews of medical records and identified 141 patients with post-COVID-19 complications. Statistical analysis was performed with IBM SPSS version 25.0 and show in frequency and percentage. The study was approved by the Ministry of Health, Medical Ethics Committee of the Republic of Slovenia with serial number: 0120-468/5022/6.
Results: Most complications after recovering from COVID-19 were observed in the cardiovascular system (n= 79; 56.0%) and the respiratory system (n= 59; 41.8%). Most of these are Palpitations (n= 27; 19.0%), cough (n= 23; 16.2%), Pneumonia (n= 21; 17.8%) and Infectious myocarditis (n= 17; 12.0 %). After recovering from COVID-19, arterial embolism and thromboembolism occur first (14 days), followed by pulmonary embolism (16 days), pulmonary edema (23 days), sepsis (28 days) and infectious myocarditis (29 days). In addition, we noticed complications after recovering from COVID-19 on the skin, urinary system, sensory system, endocrine system, gastrointestinal system and nervous system.
Conclusion: Our study has shown that COVID-19 is indeed a systemic disease. Post-COVID-19 complications will barely begin to show themselves, so we believe that we have laid a good foundation for further epidemiological research.
 
Keywords: 
COVID-19; Complications; Epidemiology; Systemic virus
 
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