Key comorbidities in the development of post-COVID conditions: diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and obesity

Objective: To analyze and compare the symptoms of post-COVID condition (PCC) in patients with and without chronic comorbidities, such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Method: This is a cross-sectional and analytical study, considering a sample of 350 patients with PCC treated in Primary Health Care services. Data were collected from medical records and analyzed using a Poisson regression model to estimate the prevalence ratio. Results: The prevalence of PCC symptoms was reduced by 50% for headache and by 64% for sore throat in non-diabetic individuals. People with hypertension showed twice the prevalence of muscle weakness and/or loss of strength compared to those with normal blood pressure. In addition, diarrhea and upper limbs tingling/throbbing were more prevalent in obese individuals. Conclusion: The study presented a bidirectional relationship between PCC and pre-existing chronic conditions, providing a detailed understanding of how specific comorbidities influence PCC symptoms.