“Síndrome post COVID -19: prevalencia de signos y síntomas en la población adulta. Azogues, diciembre 2022 – marzo 2023”

Abstract

Introduction: Post-COVID-19 syndrome is defined by the persistence of clinical signs and symptoms that arise after suffering from this disease; it is a fundamental problem in public health. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of signs and symptoms of post-COVID-19 syndrome in the adult population (20-59 years) in Azogues canton in Cañar-Ecuador. Methodology: An observational, descriptive-correlational study with a quantitative approach was conducted with 244 participants. The survey technique was used through the application of the instrument called "COVID-19 Infection Survey", elaborated and validated by the National Statistics Office of the United Kingdom, adapted by the researchers with an internal consistency of Cronbach's α of 0.834. Results: Seventeen point six percent of the sample reported comorbidities such as hypertension (5.7%), hypothyroidism (2.5%), diabetes, and gastritis (1.6%), respectively. The prevalence of post-COVID signs and symptoms was 37.3%. Among the most frequent were: bone and joint pain (7.8%), cough (7%), and fatigue/weakness/tiredness (4.5%); a significant relationship was found between post-COVID syndrome and hospitalization during the first infection. Conclusion: This syndrome presents signs and symptoms similar to active virus even when the pathogenicity stage has passed, affecting more than one-third of the population in Azogues.