Publication date: Mar 25, 2025

The aim was to describe the epidemiology, phenotyping, and risk factors of long COVID (LC) in a well-defined cohort of kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) using a novel LC diagnostic method based on self-reported symptoms. We conducted a cross-sectional study using an electronic survey to inquire about persisting symptoms following COVID-19. KTRs who survived COVID-19 up to February 8, 2023, were considered for inclusion, and 596 KTRs were enrolled. A brief 35-question screening questionnaire was used. A novel statistical approach based on the factor analysis method was used to make LC diagnosis and identify its clinical phenotypes. LC was identified in 33. 7% of KTRs who responded to the survey. Male sex (OR 0. 69, 95% CI 0. 48 – 1. 0, p = 0. 047), more severe COVID-19 (OR 2. 48, 95% CI 1. 58 – 3. 92, p < 0. 001), higher body mass index (OR 1. 04, 95% CI 1. 0 - 1. 08, p = 0. 031), and corticosteroids (OR 2. 8, 95% CI 1. 23 - 7. 09, p = 0. 02) were independently associated with LC development. Eight LC phenotypes were identified based on symptom clustering: fatigue (32. 4% of all KTRs), psychiatric (15. 9%), cardiovascular (6%), ophthalmic (13. 8%), cognitive (17. 8%), fibromyalgia-like (11. 1%), integumental (10. 6%), and malnutritional (6%). The rate of LC was similar in those who had COVID-19 less/more than a year since responding to the survey. A novel method for determining LC diagnosis and its phenotyping was used in a large cohort of KTRs, which showed that a third of KTRs who responded to the survey developed LC after COVID-19. This method may improve diagnosis and future research of LC.

Semantics

Original Article