Quantifying the systemic and oral symptoms of Long COVID: A comprehensive cross-sectional survey analysis.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency and pattern of systemic and oral manifestations of Long COVID. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: The study was conducted in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Period: January 2023 to June 2023. Methods: A total of 344 participants with a history of confirmed COVID-19 infection were included. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire modified from previously published Long COVID symptom checklists and validated through expert review. The questionnaire measured demographic characteristics, presence of persistent post-COVID systemic symptoms, and oral manifestations. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate frequencies and percentages. Results: The most commonly reported systemic symptoms were hair loss (48.3%), headache (43.6%), fatigue (38.1%), lack of concentration (34.3%), and muscle pain (33.7%). Common oral manifestations comprised loss of taste (28.8%), dry mouth (20.3%), mouth sores (19.5%), and swollen or bleeding gums (18.9%). Pattern analysis showed a predominance of neuro-systemic and general systemic manifestations, with hair loss, headache, fatigue, and lack of concentration forming the most common systemic cluster. Conclusion: Long COVID is associated with an extensive range of systemic and oral manifestations in this population, affecting individuals across different demographic groups. Identification of oral symptoms is also crucial and should be incorporated into post-COVID assessment and care.