Post-acute COVID-19 Syndrome among Survivors of Severe SARS-CoV-2 Virus Infection: Findings from A Community-based Household Survey in Yangon and Mandalay Regions

Aung Kyaw Kyaw#, Khin Hnin Pwint#, Win Pa Pa Naing*, Han Win, Thae Maung Maung, Phyo Aung Naing, Aung Pyae Phyo, Khin Mi Mi Lay, Htin Lin, Yi Yi Kyaw, Mo Mo Win, Moe Kyaw Myint, Tin Oo, Hlaing Myat Thu & Zaw Than Htun

Myanmar Health Sciences Research Journal, Vol. 37, No. 1-3, 2025

The COVID-19 infection may be followed by prolonged sequelae      that could affect the life quality. This study aims to identify the prevalence of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome among survivors            of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection during the third-wave, delta variant dominant period, in Yangon and Mandalay Regions. A cross-sectional, community-based household survey was conducted from September     to October 2023 in 30 townships from two regions. Among 3441 households, trained researchers screened the presence of surviving  severe COVID-19 patients and 117 participants from 107/3441 house-    holds were recruited. Severe COVID-19 was operationally defined as the patients with the level of oxygen saturation of ≤94% and/or needed oxygen therapy or admitted to hospital. Face to face interviews were conducted by trained medical doctors using Kobo collect software.   Two cases (1.7%) suffered oxygen dependency and required oxygen therapy to the time of the study. Among reported physical symptoms lasting 12 to 24 weeks, fatigue, hair loss and myalgia were the most common and occurred in 1.7% (2 cases) of the participants. Dyspnea (6.0%; 7 cases), hair loss (6.0%; 7 cases), fatigue (5.1%; 6 cases) and tinnitus (5.1%; 6 cases) were common symptoms persisted more than 24 weeks. 

The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a respiratory infectious disease and the COVID-19 pandemic induces a substantial global burden of disease.¹ The World   Health Organization announced it as pandemic and the first case in Myanmar   was detected in March 2020.²

From March 2020 to mid-August, 2020    was determined as first wave and the total number of cases reported was 374 cases.     In Myanmar, from mid-August 2020 to end      of May 2021 was regarded as second         wave, from end of May, 2021 to end of         January 2022 period was third wave,          the delta variant was dominant during       this time and end of January to end of April 2022 was called as fourth wave, Omicron variant-dominant period.³

A cross-sectional, community-based house- hold survey was conducted from September to October 2023. This study was a part of  the community-based survey about the COVID-19 infection and the sample size was calculated based on the knowledge, attitude and preventive practices study in Northwest Ethiopia.⁵ The overall sample size of 3,441 households was reached taking into account of the proportion of positive attitude towards the prevention of COVID-19 as 62.6% in Ethiopia study, a design effect of 2 and 10% non-response rate at 5% precision and 95% confidence level.

Post‑viral syndrome is a well‑known medical condition which can be observed after many viral infections. Similarly, SARS-CoV-2 infected patients also experienced the post-viral syndrome which was manifested by long‑term clinical sequelae after recovering from an acute viral infection.⁷ According to the global analysis of reported data, the cumulative prevalence of post-viral syndrome after COVID- 19 infection was up to 6‑fold higher than that of similar post viral infection^.7 Recent studies also described that up to 87% of SARS-CoV 2 infected patients among working age group could suffer post COVID syndrome.⁸

All authors declared that there is no conflict of interests.