Long COVID among infected students and staff in Chiang Mai university, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Abstract

Background

Although COVID-19 became endemic status in September 2022, studies and monitoring of individuals infected with COVID-19 have revealed that some develop Long COVID. This study aims to describe the prevalence of Long COVID and related factors among COVID-19-infected university students and staff in Thailand.

Methods

This study used a retrospective cohort design to investigate Long COVID and its associated factors among university students and staff members who had previously tested positive for COVID-19 and reported their results to the University COVID-19 Reporting system between February 21 and June 30, 2022.

Results

The results indicated that the prevalence of Long COVID was 51.9 %. Among them 92.7 % had multiple symptoms. The most common symptoms were fatigue (65.8 %), easy tiredness (59.2 %), and easy tiredness after physical activity (44.7 %). Multiple logistic regression showed that factors associated with Long COVID were female compared to male (aOR = 2.228, 95 % CI = 1.743–2.849), and aged 20–29 years compared to being under 20 years old (aOR = 1.288, 95 % CI = 1.005–1.650). People with comorbidities compared to those without (aOR = 1.503, 95%CI = 1.099–2.056). People with the highest severity compared to those with mild severity (aOR = 2.041, 95%CI = 1.380–3.018), as well as those infected with Covid-19 twice or more compared to those infected once (aOR = 2.014, 95%CI = 1.346–3.012).

Conclusion

Long COVID symptoms should be closely monitored, particularly in individuals with underlying health conditions and those who experienced severe symptoms during their COVID-19 infection.