Associated-Onset Symptoms and Post-COVID-19 Symptoms in Hospitalized COVID-19 Survivors Infected with Wuhan, Alpha or Delta SARS-CoV-2 Variant

This study compared associated-symptoms at the acute phase of infection and post-COVID-19 symptoms between individuals hospitalized with the Wuhan, Alpha or Delta SARS-CoV-2 variant. Non-vaccinated individuals hospitalized because of SARS-CoV-2 infection in one hospital during three different waves of the pandemic (Wuhan, Alpha or Delta) were scheduled for a telephone interview. The presence of post-COVID-19 symptoms was systematically assessed. Hospitalization and clinical data were collected from medical records. A total of 201 patients infected with the Wuhan variant, 211 with the Alpha variant and 202 with Delta variant were assessed six months after hospitalization. Patients infected with the Wuhan variant had a greater number of symptoms at hospital admission (higher prevalence of fever, dyspnea or gastrointestinal problems) than those infected with Alpha or Delta variant (p < 0.01). A greater proportion of patients infected with the Delta variant reported headache, anosmia or ageusia as onset symptoms (p < 0.01). The mean number of post-COVID-19 symptoms was higher (p < 0.001) in individuals infected with the Wuhan variant (mean: 2.7 +/- 1.3) than in those infected with the Alpha (mean: 1.8 +/- 1.1) or Delta (mean: 2.1 +/- 1.5) variant. Post-COVID-19 dyspnea was more prevalent (p < 0.001) in people infected with the Wuhan variant, whereas hair loss was higher in those infected with the Delta variant (p = 0.002). No differences in post-COVID-19 fatigue by SARS-CoV-2 variant were found (p = 0.594). Differences in COVID-19 associated onset symptoms and post-COVID-19 dyspnea were observed depending on the SARS-CoV-2 variant. The presence of fatigue was a common post-COVID-19 symptom to all SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Automated summary

This study compared the symptoms during the acute phase of infection and post-COVID-19 symptoms between individuals hospitalized with different variants of SARS-CoV-2. The study found differences in symptoms between individuals infected with the Wuhan, Alpha, or Delta variant, with the Wuhan variant showing a greater number of symptoms at hospital admission and the Delta variant showing differences in onset symptoms. However, fatigue was a common post-COVID-19 symptom regardless of the variant.