Abstract

Background: Although the COVID-19 pandemic has passed, some patients still experience post-COVID-19 symptoms. It has been reported that COVID-19 symptoms can persist for more than three months after recovery.

Objective: This study aims to analyze biomarkers, severity, and outcome factors associated with post-COVID-19 symptoms.

Methods: This prospective cohort study involves hospitalised COVID-19 patients who were followed for up to 3 months after discharge. Clinical examinations and laboratory tests for MMP-9, TIMP-1, and IL-6 were conducted during hospitalisation and after three months.

Results: We enrolled 76 COVID-19 patients, with a mortality rate of 30.26%. Among them, 55 individuals (30.91%) had no residual symptoms, 54.5% had acute COVID-19, 9.09% had ongoing COVID-19, and 5.45% had long-term COVID-19. Symptomatic post-COVID-19 had oxygen demand and respiratory rates higher than no-symptoms groups. Early IL-6, IL-10, MMP-9, and TIMP- 1 were lower in symptomatic post-COVID-19 compared to dead and asymptomatic post-COVID-19 groups. IL-6 and MMP-9 decrease, and TIMP-1 increases after cure. IL-6 significantly still increases in post-COVID-19 symptoms compared to no-symptoms (p=0.01). Patients more than 50 years old and critically ventilated patients are prone to have symptoms post-COVID-19.

Conclusions: More than half of patients suffer from post-COVID-19 symptoms with various related factors. Even though IL-6 decreases after recovery, IL-6 levels are still higher in symptomatic post- COVID-19 patients.

Keywords: Post COVID-19, biomarkers, IL-6, IL-10, MMP-9, TIMP-1, severity, outcome.