Characteristics of Post-Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection Syndrome in a Hawaii Cohort

Abstract

Background: Months after being infected with COVID-19, 10% to 30% of people still experience debilitating symptoms. The characteristics of Post-Acute SARS-CoV-2 Syndrome (PASC) in the state of Hawaii are currently unknown. Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders (NHPI) were reported to be most likely affected by COVID-19.

Objective: Our aim is to i) describe the symptomatic characteristics, rates and severity of PASC in individuals presenting with PASC in Hawaii, ii) to compare the ethnicity distribution of PASC in Hawaii in the H054 cohort to the ethnic breakdown of cases of acute COVID-19 in Hawaii published by the CDC, and iii) to explore the relationship between chronic co-morbidities and the development of PASC.

Methods: Data were collected from the COVID-19 Seroprevalence Study conducted at JABSOM and the Queen’s Medical Center. Participants were interviewed in person and information was collected on their demographics, medical history, and the severity of their COVID-19 symptoms during the acute infection phase and >4 weeks post symptoms onset. Odds ratios, and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) were used in data analysis for this cohort. Further, we reviewed and compared reported acute COVID-19 cases from the Hawaii Department Health to our study conducted at the and Hawaii Center for AIDS, John A. Burns School of Medicine.

Results: Of the 76 participants enrolled in the study 36 (47%) had PASC. The most experienced symptoms were dyspnea, cough, and other respiratory symptoms (86%), brain fog (55%), fatigue (34%), and joint, muscle pain or rash (33%). The most common comorbidities were cardiovascular diseases (OR=2.406; CI=0.632-9.155; p=0.189), diabetes (OR=1.98; CI=0.504-7.774; p=0.322), hypertension (OR=2.615; CI=0.444-15.393; p=0.274), respiratory diseases (OR=1.231; CI=0.321-4.716; p=0.274); high cholesterol (OR=1.80; CI=0.293-12.008; p=0.501); malignancies (OR=1.74; CI=0.359-8,479, p=0.501), and musculoskeletal diseases (OR=6.923; CI=0.763-62.825; p=0.052). For recovered COVID-19 cases and PASC, there was no difference between age, gender, ethnicity or education.

Conclusion: Cardiovascular diseases was the most common comorbidity amongst PASC participants followed by diabetes and respiratory diseases. Dyspnea, cough, and other respiratory symptoms were the most common PASC symptoms. Further study and understanding of these symptoms may help in the treatment of PASC.