Symptom Persistence Following COVID-19 Infection among an Indigenous Community Residing in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, Mexico

TL;DR

This study examines long-term symptoms of COVID-19 in the Indigenous Zapotec community in Mexico and finds that factors like age and vaccination affect symptom duration.

Contribution

The study provides insights into post-COVID-19 symptom persistence in an underrepresented Indigenous population and identifies sociodemographic and clinical factors influencing recovery.

Findings

61 out of 90 participants reported persistent symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection, with an average duration of 13.87 months.

Symptom duration varied significantly based on age, marital status, education, vaccination status, and blood group.

Common persistent symptoms included dry cough, fatigue, headache, and depressive symptoms.

Abstract

Introduction/Objectives: Several studies have documented the development and persistence of symptoms related to COVID-19 and its secondary complications up to 12 months after the infection. We aimed to identify the medical complications following COVID-19 infection in the Indigenous Zapotec population of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec region in Oaxaca, Mexico. Methods: This is a cross-sectional analytical study that included 90 Indigenous Zapotec participants (30 males and 60 females) from the Tehuantepec region, Oaxaca, Mexico, who had an infectious process due to SARS-CoV-2. Sociodemographic and clinical data were identified through questionnaires. Results: Among the 201 participants, 90 individuals (66.7% women, 33.3% men) had contracted COVID-19. Out of these, 61 individuals reported persistent symptoms post-infection, with a mean symptom duration of 13.87 months. The results show significant variations in symptom duration based on age, marital status, educational attainment, vaccination status, and blood group. The most commonly reported symptoms included a dry cough, fever, myalgia, fatigue, headache, and depressive symptoms. Conclusions: This study highlights the post-COVID-19 symptoms and their prevalence within a specific sample of the Indigenous Zapotec population in Oaxaca, along with the sociodemographic and clinical factors influencing the duration of these symptoms. It underscores the necessity of personalized recovery strategies and highlights the critical role of vaccination in mitigating the long-term impacts of SARS-CoV-2.

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