Six-Month Trajectories of Symptoms, Perceived Recovery, and Functional Health in Ecuadorian Adults with COVID-19

Background/Objectives: Most longitudinal evidence on post-acute COVID-19 comes from hospitalized patients in high-income countries and less is known about community samples in low- and middle-income settings. This study examined changes in perceived recovery, symptom burden, general health perception, and functional difficulties over six months in Ecuadorian adults with confirmed COVID-19.

Methods

In a prospective observational cohort in Quito, Ecuador, 120 adults with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 were assessed at baseline (within four weeks of diagnosis) and again three and six months after the baseline assessment; 91 completed all three assessments. The Spanish-language ISARIC follow-up survey covered 39 symptoms, perceived recovery, the EQ-5D-5L and EQ-VAS, and six Washington Group functioning items rated retrospectively for the pre-COVID period and currently. Analyses were exploratory and descriptive, and all p-values are nominal and unadjusted for multiple comparisons.