COVID-19 Symptoms: Longitudinal Evolution and Persistence in Outpatient Settings
Mayssam Nehme, Olivia Braillard, Gabriel Alcoba, Sigiriya Aebischer Perone, Delphine S. Courvoisier, François Chappuis, Idris Guessous
Abstract
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread, causing a worldwide pandemic, and prolonged effects are emerging (1, 2). The term “long COVID” describes illness in persons who continue to report lasting effects after infection (3, 4). To date, little information exists about outpatient settings in this novel disease where 81% of cases are reportedly on the mild end of the spectrum (5). Informing patients and physicians about COVID-19 symptom evolution may help them recognize the time course of the disease, legitimize patients' concerns, and reassure them when possible. Messages around potentially persisting symptoms could also assist in reinforcing public health measures to avoid the spread of infection. Objective: To describe COVID-19 symptom evolution and persistence in an outpatient setting in Geneva, Switzerland, from day 1 through day 30 to 45 after diagnosis.