Page 122 - MI-2-2

Microbes & Immunity Physiological and cognitive effects of PASC

(loading=0.6), breathlessness (loading=0.5), fatigue Among the 52 participants who responded that they knew
(loading=0.4), sleep issues (loading=0.4), and cranial their variant, 4 (~8%) specified Delta, 22 (~42%) specified
nerve dysfunction (loading=0.4). This factor aligned with Omicron, 4 (~8%) specified a subvariant of Omicron, and
the respiratory cluster found in the duration analysis. 22 (~42%) specified the original strain of the virus. This
Intriguingly, cough stands out as a particularly significant variation in the proportion of participants affected could
symptom due to its high loading in duration and severity be a result of variation in the degree of contagiousness or
analysis. The persistent nature of these respiratory symptoms time periods in which these variants were most prevalent.
highlights their substantial physical burden on patients. The original strain of SARS-CoV-2 was the dominant strain
from January 2020 to June 2021, which may explain why
Factor 3, labeled as sensory dysfunction, includes
dysgeusia (loading=1) and anosmia (loading=0.7), 42% of participants reported being infected with it. On the
other hand, the Delta variant was most prevalent from June
indicating alterations in taste and smell perception in PACS to mid-December 2021. The Omicron variant replaced
40
patients. These sensory impairments can impact patients’ the Delta variant in mid-December 2021 and remained
quality of life, potentially worsening psychological distress, prevalent until mid-2022 when it mutated into several
and complicating recovery efforts.
subvariants, such as EG.5 (“Eris”) and BA.2.86 (“Pirola”),
Finally, Factor 4, labeled as depression, consists which remain prevalent to this day. Yale Medicine has also
of depression (loading=0.7) and suicidal thoughts noted that Omicron and its subvariants were the most
(loading=0.6). While suicidal thoughts indicate a major contagious strains, which could contribute to the large
area of worry, their relatively lower loading compared to proportion of participants infected with this strain. Among
depression indicates that depression is a core component of those who knew their variant, there was significant variation
this factor. This relationship warrants further investigation in the strain they were infected with and the time period of
into how clinical populations may experience depression, each variant’s prevalence. Therefore, no clear conclusions
especially in light of other illnesses. can be drawn about the effects of a specific variant.

4. Discussion Due to COVID-19’s worldwide prevalence, this study can
educate others on the risks associated with the virus. More
The study was designed based on findings from extensive specifically, PACS, which continues to cause physiological
literature examining specific COVID-19 aftereffects and and neurological effects with unknown timeframes, has
their symptoms. 10-38 Recent data from the 2022 National affected millions of people across the US. By surveying
Health Interview Survey evaluating the ongoing symptoms individuals who tested positive for COVID-19, connections
of post-COVID-19 in the U S demonstrate that long-term can be made between demographic factors and symptoms to
symptoms are influenced by different demographics. better understand the longevity of COVID-19 effects. This
39
Regarding age distribution, the self-reporting survey study can aid clinics, research projects, and public health
revealed that adults aged 35 – 49 showed higher experts in understanding and improving the prevention
susceptibility to PACS compared to other group ages (18 – and treatment of PACS. In addition, the findings can raise
39
34, 50 – 64, and 65 or older). Previous studies have also awareness about PACS among healthcare providers and
indicated differences across biological sex, with women the public to understand potential symptoms and support
being 3.3% more likely than men to experience PACS affected individuals. This study can also incentivize the
symptoms following infection. Furthermore, the interview establishment of community support groups for those
39
showed that the percentage of adults with PACS varied by dealing with the long-term impacts of COVID-19.
race. Asian adults were less likely to have PACS compared to However, it is important to acknowledge that the
Black, White, and Hispanic groups. Hispanic adults were the participant sample size may be too limited to address such a
most likely to experience PACS (8.3%), followed by White significant issue. The geographic focus of this study is largely
and then Black adults. Finally, the percentage of adults with concentrated in the Western US, limiting its generalizability
39
PACS differed by the level of urbanization, as PACS was less to other regions or populations. Expanding the geographic
prevalent in adults living in large central metropolitan areas scope of future studies to an international scale would
compared to medium to small metropolitan areas. 39
increase their relevance to the broader population.
One initial goal of this study was to analyze variant- In addition, the study has a higher representation of
specific impacts. However, it is difficult to draw participants of Asian descent, making the results more
connections between specific SARS-CoV-2 variants, the pertinent to the Asian-American population. Gender
severity of infection, and the duration of symptoms. Of the also serves as a limitation, with 63% of the participants
110 participants, 58 (~53%) responded “I don’t know” when being female compared to 36% male. While the data and
asked which variant of COVID-19 they were infected with. implications are relevant to both groups, the higher female

Volume 2 Issue 2 (2025) 114 doi: 10.36922/mi.8545