Post-COVID Syndrome in Southern Tunisia: Prevalence, Clinical Spectrum, and Associated Factors Among Non-Severe Patients.

Publication date: Jul 01, 2025

Post-COVID syndrome, a long-term consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, remains insufficiently understood. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of post-COVID syndrome, describe its clinical spectrum, and identify associated factors among patients with non-severe forms of the disease. We conducted a cross-sectional study using telephone interviews in Sfax, southern Tunisia, during January 2021. The study population included individuals who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in October 2020. Minors and deceased individuals were excluded. Post-COVID syndrome was defined as the persistence of symptoms for more than eight weeks following the initial COVID-19 diagnosis. A total of 2,070 patients were enrolled. The sample included 1,230 women (59. 4%), with a male-to-female ratio of 0. 68. The median age was 40 years [semi-interquartile range (SIR): 12. 5 years]. The prevalence of post-COVID syndrome was 41. 6% (n = 861). Among these, 229 patients (26. 5%) consulted a physician for persistent symptoms, and 122 (14. 13%) underwent further paraclinical evaluation. The most commonly reported symptoms were ageusia (68. 9%), cognitive difficulties including concentration and memory impairment (24. 9%), and fatigue (17. 4%). Independent factors significantly associated with post-COVID syndrome included: age under 60 years (AOR = 1. 8; 95% CI: 1. 50-2. 66), female gender (AOR = 1. 6; 95% CI: 1. 35-1. 96), history of chronic respiratory disease (AOR = 1. 8; 95% CI: 1. 2-2. 8), history of cancer (AOR = 3. 5; 95% CI: 1. 03-12. 2), anticoagulant therapy (AOR = 1. 45; 95% CI: 1. 1-1. 8), salicylic acid use (AOR = 1. 4; 95% CI: 1. 1-1. 9), and initial clinical severity categorized as mild (AOR = 5. 5; 95% CI: 3. 5-8. 5) or moderate (AOR = 7. 1; 95% CI: 4. 2-11. 9). A better understanding of the long-term manifestations of COVID-19, such as post-COVID syndrome, is essential. In the context of widespread vaccination and evolving variants, multidisciplinary approaches must be reconsidered to improve patient follow-up and healthcare strategies.

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