Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of Post-COVID-19 Syndrome in Non-Hospitalized Patients: A Study from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a lasting impact on global health, with post-COVID-19 syndrome emerging as a significant concern. This study examines the demographic and clinical characteristics of non-hospitalized post-COVID-19 patients in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Data and Methods: Here, 3,540 participants were enrolled, including 1,369 individuals who tested positive for post-COVID-19 and 976 who tested negative, based on PCR test results. Results: The findings reveal a higher prevalence of post-COVID-19 syndrome among males, with significant comorbidities such as obesity (16.50%), hypertension (66.24%), and diabetes. The smoking prevalence among affected individuals was 53.32%. Symptomatically, 56.9% exhibited medical manifestations, including neurological (27.6%) and cardiovascular (9.3%) issues. Common acute symptoms included fever, dry cough, dyspnea, fatigue, myalgia, and headache. Persistent symptoms such as insomnia, brain fog, anxiety, depression, and difficulty concentrating were frequently reported. Cardiovascular symptoms like chest pain, palpitations, and tachycardia were common, alongside neurological manifestations such as cognitive impairment, PTSD, OCD, disrupted sleep, and panic attacks. Conclusion: These findings underscore the diverse and significant burden of post-COVID-19 syndrome, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive, long-term healthcare strategies to address its multifaceted impacts. Targeted interventions and monitoring are essential to mitigate the enduring effects of this health crisis and improve outcomes for affected populations.