Post Acute Sequelae from Sars-Cov-2 (Pasc) at University of Illinois Hospital and Clinics – an Examination of the Effects of Long Covid in an Underserved Population, Utilizing Manual Extraction of Electronic Health Records

BackgroundThousands of Americans are still infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus daily. Some proportion of these infected individuals will go on to develop Post-Acute Sequelae from SARS-CoV-19 (PASC, or Long COVID), manifesting symptoms four weeks or more after recovery from COVID-19. PASC and its underlying pathophysiology are still poorly described and understood. Although hundreds of peer-reviewed, published investigations on Long COVID exist, few have focused on underserved urban patient populations. Most of the published research has involved reviews of diagnostic codes from electronic health records, or responses to questionnaires. We sought to review Long COVID in an underserved population in Chicago. We investigated which specific pre-existing conditions, if any, might be associated with specific Long COVID symptomatologies, and if any pre-existing conditions predicted Long COVID. Methods204 Long COVID patients, 98 COVID-19-postive patients, and 104 healthy (no history of COVID-19 infection) patients from an inner-city health system caring for underserved communities were reviewed via manual data extraction from electronic health records, focusing on provider notes in patient charts.Results and ConclusionsOur Long COVID symptom frequencies were distinct compared to frequencies from other reviews that did not focus on underserved populations, and done with medical records when only diagnostic codes are utilized. Pre-existing medical conditions did not predict similar Long COVID symptomologies, save for the significant association between pre-existing cough/dyspnea/pulmonary conditions and pre-existing migraine/headache, and their analogous Long COVID symptoms. The odds of having Long COVID increased comparatively in subjects hospitalized with COVID-19, subjects with BMI>30, and female subjects.