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Važgėlienė D, Kubilius R, Bileviciute-Ljungar I. The Impact of Previous Comorbidities on New Comorbidities and Medications after a Mild SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Lithuanian Cohort. J Clin Med 2024; 13:623. [PMID: 38276129 PMCID: PMC10816360 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13020623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
This cross-sectional study investigates new comorbidities and new medications after a mild SARS-CoV-2 infection. Data were collected after an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection by online survey in a Lithuanian cohort. Sociodemographic data, SARS-CoV-2-related symptoms, previous and new comorbidities, and medications were analysed. The results of 895 participants (mean age: 44 years) show that 91% were women, 58% had higher education, and 84% were working. Among those, 473 (52.8%) answered being "healthy" before infection; 823 (92%) indicated being positive on diagnostic tests; and 841 (94%) were non-hospitalized. Asymptomatic infection was reported by 17 participants (1.9%). Participants reporting any comorbidity before a SARS-CoV-2 infection reported more frequently having remaining symptoms compared to those who were "healthy", particularly in relation to neurological symptoms. Thirteen percent of participants reported new comorbidities, and thirty-five percent started new medication. Among new medications, an intake of vitamins/supplements (21%) and anti-inflammatory drugs (4%) was more often reported by "unhealthy" participants. Regression analysis revealed that new cardiovascular and pulmonary diagnoses predicted each other. Participants reporting prior neurological disorders tended to have an increased risk of intaking new vitamins/supplements and anti-inflammatory drugs after infection. The results indicate a significantly increased consumption of medication, particularly unprescribed substances, after SARS-CoV-2, indicating a need of more research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dovilė Važgėlienė
- Department of Physical Rehabilitation Medicine, Kaunas Clinic of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 50161 Kaunas, Lithuania (R.K.)
- Department of Nursing, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Raimondas Kubilius
- Department of Physical Rehabilitation Medicine, Kaunas Clinic of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 50161 Kaunas, Lithuania (R.K.)
- Department of Nursing, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Indre Bileviciute-Ljungar
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institute, Danderyd University Hospital, 182 57 Stockholm, Sweden
- Multidisciplinary Pain Clinic, Capio St. Göran Hospital, 112 19 Stockholm, Sweden
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Constantinescu-Bercu A, Lobiuc A, Căliman-Sturdza OA, Oiţă RC, Iavorschi M, Pavăl NE, Șoldănescu I, Dimian M, Covasa M. Long COVID: Molecular Mechanisms and Detection Techniques. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:408. [PMID: 38203577 PMCID: PMC10778767 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Long COVID, also known as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), has emerged as a significant health concern following the COVID-19 pandemic. Molecular mechanisms underlying the occurrence and progression of long COVID include viral persistence, immune dysregulation, endothelial dysfunction, and neurological involvement, and highlight the need for further research to develop targeted therapies for this condition. While a clearer picture of the clinical symptomatology is shaping, many molecular mechanisms are yet to be unraveled, given their complexity and high level of interaction with other metabolic pathways. This review summarizes some of the most important symptoms and associated molecular mechanisms that occur in long COVID, as well as the most relevant molecular techniques that can be used in understanding the viral pathogen, its affinity towards the host, and the possible outcomes of host-pathogen interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adela Constantinescu-Bercu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Biological Sciences, “Ştefan cel Mare” University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania; (A.C.-B.); (O.A.C.-S.); (M.I.); (N.-E.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Andrei Lobiuc
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Biological Sciences, “Ştefan cel Mare” University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania; (A.C.-B.); (O.A.C.-S.); (M.I.); (N.-E.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Olga Adriana Căliman-Sturdza
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Biological Sciences, “Ştefan cel Mare” University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania; (A.C.-B.); (O.A.C.-S.); (M.I.); (N.-E.P.); (M.C.)
- Suceava Emergency Clinical County Hospital, 720224 Suceava, Romania
| | - Radu Cristian Oiţă
- Integrated Center for Research, Development and Innovation for Advanced Materials, Nanotechnologies, Manufacturing and Control Distributed Systems (MANSiD), Ştefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania; (R.C.O.); (I.Ș.); (M.D.)
| | - Monica Iavorschi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Biological Sciences, “Ştefan cel Mare” University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania; (A.C.-B.); (O.A.C.-S.); (M.I.); (N.-E.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Naomi-Eunicia Pavăl
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Biological Sciences, “Ştefan cel Mare” University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania; (A.C.-B.); (O.A.C.-S.); (M.I.); (N.-E.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Iuliana Șoldănescu
- Integrated Center for Research, Development and Innovation for Advanced Materials, Nanotechnologies, Manufacturing and Control Distributed Systems (MANSiD), Ştefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania; (R.C.O.); (I.Ș.); (M.D.)
| | - Mihai Dimian
- Integrated Center for Research, Development and Innovation for Advanced Materials, Nanotechnologies, Manufacturing and Control Distributed Systems (MANSiD), Ştefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania; (R.C.O.); (I.Ș.); (M.D.)
- Department of Computers, Electronics and Automation, Ştefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania
| | - Mihai Covasa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Biological Sciences, “Ştefan cel Mare” University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania; (A.C.-B.); (O.A.C.-S.); (M.I.); (N.-E.P.); (M.C.)
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91711, USA
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