The prevalence of COVID-19 symptoms and their correlation to patients' health state in Palestine

Background and Aims: Many symptoms have been reported by individuals infected with the SARS-Cov2 virus. This study assessed the prevalence of selected COVID-19 symptoms among infected individuals in Palestine and its association with patient health status and comorbidities. Methods: A cross-sectional observation questionnaire-based study was conducted to collect data from confirmed SARS Cov-2 infection patients. The questionnaire was distributed face-to-face or online. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used to find significant relationships among data variables. Results: : 680 participants completed the questionnaire; the mean age was 28.1 ± 11·8. A total of 572 (84.1%) developed at least one symptom during infection. The most common reported symptoms during the infection were fatigue (93.1%), headache (90.7%), loss of smell (89.0%), and joint pain. In patients older than 50, loss of sense of smell was the least encountered symptom, while fatigue, loss of taste, and fever were most common in patients younger than 40. Patients with at least one comorbid condition suffered most from fatigue and headache. Conclusions: : Various demographic factors and determinants found to affect the infection with COVID-19, type of symptoms, and comorbidities involved. Even though it has been almost three years since the pandemic started, and with the availability of vaccines and emergent viral mutations, awareness of signs and symptoms and uncovering newer symptoms are essential in making the diagnosis, halting and controlling the virus's spread. Therefore, COVID-19 infection and related symptoms remain challenging for health care providers and researchers, as the disease requires much investigation effort to be well understood.