The study ‘A hierarchical cluster analysis of Long COVID symptoms 9 and 12 months after SARS-CoV-2 test’, developed as part of the LOCUS project (LOng Covid – Understanding Symptoms, events and use of services in Portugal), won 1st prize for Research in the scientific competition at the 5th Congress of Public Health Doctors. The study was presented by Ana Marta Moniz, a PhD student at the NOVA National School of Public Health (NOVA NSPH).
In terms of results, the study identified that memory loss, fatigue, weakness and joint pain were the most reported symptoms, both at the end of 9 months and 12 months after the diagnosis of COVID. The study is published in the journal BMC Infectious Diseases, where it can be consulted here.
The 5th National Congress of Public Health Doctors took place from 30 September to 2 October in Torres Vedras.
The LOCUS study (LOng Covid – Understanding Symptoms, events and use of services in Portugal) aims to contribute to understanding long COVID (post-COVID-19 condition) in Portugal, considering various contexts and various methods.
The general objective is to find out how many people suffer from long COVID in Portugal and what their characteristics are, including in patients who have been hospitalised for COVID-19 and/or monitored in the community, as well as to understand the experiences related to long COVID. To achieve this goal, three components were included: Serious events in patients hospitalised for COVID-19; Mild symptoms among community cases of COVID-19; Experiences of patients living with long COVID and professionals who follow them.
More information is available here.