Evaluating the Predictors of Persistent Long COVID Symptoms and Their Severity in COVID-19 Survivors One Year After Infection

This study of 845 COVID-19 survivors in Saudi Arabia examined long COVID symptoms persisting beyond 1 year, with a focus on severity and predictors. Common symptoms included fatigue, hair loss, cough, memory impairment, and anosmia, with hair loss affecting 38.4% of participants. Women and those from moderate-to-high-income households were more likely to experience persistent symptoms. A higher number of acute COVID-19 symptoms correlated with long-term persistence, while early post-infection symptoms were negatively associated with long-term symptoms. Age, BMI, and chronic diseases were not significant predictors. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions and suggests that vaccination may reduce the incidence and severity of long COVID symptoms.