Long COVID-19 symptoms: Clinical characteristics and recovery rate among non-severe outpatients over a six-month follow-up

BACKGROUND: To describe persistent symptoms in long COVID-19 non-severe outpatients and report the 6-month clinical recovery (CR) rate. METHODS: Observational study enrolling outpatients (≥ 18 years) with confirmed non-severe COVID-19 (positive nasopharyngeal RT-PCR or presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies) who consulted for persistent symptoms after the first pandemic wave (March-May 2020). CR was assessed at the 6-month visit and defined as complete (no symptom), partial (persistent symptoms of lower intensity) or lack of recovery (no improvement). RESULTS: Sixty-three patients (79% women, mean age: 48 years) enrolled; main symptoms (mean 81 days after acute infection): asthenia/myalgia (77%), dyspnea (51%), headaches (35%), cough (33%). At 6 months (n = 56), 30% had complete, 57% partial, and 13% lack of recovery. The proportion of patients with > 2 persistent symptoms was 26% at 6 months (main symptoms: dyspnea [54%] and asthenia/myalgia [46%]). CONCLUSION: We observed a slow but high recovery rate at 6 months among these outpatients.