Musculoskeletal Symptoms in Individuals Afflicted by COVID-19

The study aims to delineate the occurrence of musculoskeletal symptoms among COVID-19 patients admitted to hospitals and explore the relationship between interleukin levels and C-reactive protein (CRP).

A study involving the review of medical records was carried out on 109 patients aged 18 and above who were COVID-19 positive and hospitalized during treatment. Pregnant individuals with severe illnesses or insufficient data were excluded from the analysis. Demographic information and laboratory findings were extracted from a health database from earlier research conducted at the same hospital. The investigation focused on establishing the connection between musculoskeletal manifestations, CRP, and interleukin levels. P values less than 0.05 were accepted as statistically significant.

A total of 109 individuals were assessed in this study. Among the patients, 34.86% (n = 38) reported arthralgia, 1.83% (n = 2) had arthritis, 41.28% (n = 45) experienced fatigue, and 32.11% (n = 35) encountered post-COVID-19 syndrome. Notably, no significant correlation was observed between musculoskeletal manifestations, CRP, and interleukin levels (P>0.05). However, a positive correlation was identified between post-COVID-19 syndrome, fatigue, duration of O2 support, and duration of hospitalization (P<0.05). Additionally, 54% of the patients were elderly, aged 65 years or older. Furthermore, CRP levels exhibited a positive correlation with the duration of hospitalization, O2 support, history of intensive care, and duration of intensive care (P<0.05). Regarding interleukin levels, there was a positive correlation between interleukin-6 and CRP levels, duration of hospitalization, and O2 support duration (P<0.05). No significant correlation was found between interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 levels (P>0.05).

No correlation was observed between musculoskeletal symptoms and levels of CRP and interleukin. It is recommended to monitor individuals who have been hospitalized, elderly, experiencing unusual fatigue, or relying on oxygen support for the development of post-COVID-19 syndrome.