Musculoskeletal Manifestations, Post-COVID Syndrome, Relationship with Laboratory Parameters in Hospitalized Patients Infected with COVID-19

Abstract Background: This study aims to characterize the prevalence of musculoskeletal manifestations in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and the relationship between C-Reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin levels. Methods: A medical records review study was performed on patients at Baskent University between March 7 and December 31, 2020. The study included hospitalized patients above 18 years diagnosed with COVID-19 by polymerase chain reaction. Pregnant individuals, those with end-stage disease or missing documentation were excluded. Patient demographics and laboratory results were obtained from electronic health records and previous study performed in the same hospital. The relationship between musculoskeletal manifestations, CRP, and interleukin levels were determined. A Pvalue of less than .05 was consideredstatistically significant. Results: Totally, 109 patients were analyzed; 34.86% (n = 38) of the patients had arthralgia, 1.83% (n = 2) had arthritis, 41.28% (n = 45) underwentfatigue, and 32.11% (n = 35) experiencedpost-COVID syndrome. There was no correlation between musculoskeletal manifestations, CRP, and interleukin levels (P > .05). There was positive correlation between post-COVID syndrome, fatigue, duration of O2 support, duration of hospitalization (P < .05), and the patients were elderly. CRP levels were positively correlated with duration of hospitalization, duration of O2 support, history of intensive care, and duration of intensive care (P < .05). Interleukin 6 levels were positively correlated with CRP levels, duration of hospitalization, and O2 support duration (P < .05), but there was no correlation with interleukin 10 levels (P > .05). Conclusion: There was no correlation between musculoskeletal manifestations, CRP, and interleukin levels. Patients who are hospitalized, elderly, abnormally fatigued, or O2 supported should be followed for post-COVID syndrome.