"Analysis of patients treated at the pulmonology Post-COVID clinic in Dubrovnik General Hospital"

Post-COVID sindrom, poznat i kao produženi COVID, označava skup simptoma koji se pojavljuju kod osoba čak i nakon što su formalno ozdravile od akutne faze COVID-19. Dok mnogi dožive blagu ili umjerenu bolest i oporave se, značajan broj se suočava s nizom trajnih zdravstvenih problema koji duboko utječu na njihovu svakodnevicu. Ovi simptomi traju i pogađaju različite tjelesne sustave, uključujući umor, respiratorne probleme, neurološke smetnje poput glavobolje i problema s pamćenjem, kardiovaskularne simptome, gastrointestinalne tegobe te psihičke posljedice poput anksioznosti i depresije. Osobe također mogu osjećati bolove u mišićima i zglobovima, gubitak osjeta okusa i mirisa te pad općeg zdravstvenog stanja. Post-COVID sindrom je kompleksno stanje koje još uvijek nema univerzalno prihvaćenu definiciju, uglavnom zbog raznolikih simptoma i njihove nepredvidive prirode. Procjene prevalencije variraju, ali je očito da čak i oni koji su prvotno imali blage slučajeve COVID-19 mogu iskusiti dugotrajne posljedice. Određeni čimbenici, poput težine početne infekcije, dobi, spola i prisutnosti prethodnih zdravstvenih problema, mogu utjecati na vjerojatnost razvoja Post-COVID sindroma. Mehanizmi koji leže iza ovih trajnih simptoma još nisu u potpunosti shvaćeni, ali teorije sugeriraju da neobičan imunološki odgovor ili preostala prisutnost virusa mogu imati ulogu. Dijagnoza uključuje prepoznavanje nastavka simptoma nakon akutne faze infekcije te isključivanje drugih mogućih objašnjenja. Nepostojanje specifičnih terapija dodatno otežava situaciju, pa se liječenje obično svodi na tretiranje pojedinačnih simptoma putem kombinirane terapije, uključujući rehabilitaciju, fizikalnu terapiju, psihološku podršku i prilagodbe životnog stila. Nastavno, Post-COVID sindrom predstavlja značajan medicinski izazov nakon globalne pandemije. Njegovi dugotrajni i raznoliki simptomi naglašavaju potrebu za nastavkom istraživanja i multidisciplinarnim pristupima dijagnozi i skrbi. Kako se zdravstveni stručnjaci i istraživači udružuju kako bi rasvijetlili ovo stanje, nastoje poboljšati kvalitetu života onih koji se i dalje suočavaju s dugotrajnim posljedicama. U ovom radu prikazano je istraživanje koje je provedeno u pulmološkoj post – Covid ambulanti OB Dubrovnik među pacijentima koji su se javili radi tegoba nastalih nakon 3 preboljenja bolesti Covid 19. Rezultati dobiveni ovim istraživanjem prikazani su u vidu najčešćih tegoba, testovima plućne funkcije, te prikaza patoloških abnormalnosti radioloških nalaza karakterističnim za post – Covid sindrom.Post-COVID Syndrome, also known as Long COVID, refers to a collection of persistent symptoms that appear in individuals even after they have formally recovered from the acute phase of COVID-19. While many experience mild or moderate illness and recover, a significant number face a range of lasting health issues that deeply affect their daily lives. These symptoms persist and impact various bodily systems, including fatigue, respiratory problems, neurological disturbances like headache and memory issues, cardiovascular symptoms, gastrointestinal discomfort, and psychological effects such as anxiety and depression. Individuals might also feel muscle and joint pains, loss of taste and smell, and a general decline in overall health. Post-COVID Syndrome is a complex condition that still lacks a universally accepted definition, primarily due to the diverse symptoms and their unpredictable nature. Prevalence estimates vary, but it's evident that even those who initially had mild COVID-19 cases can experience lasting consequences. Specific factors, such as the severity of the initial infection, age, gender, and the presence of pre-existing health problems, can influence the likelihood of developing Post-COVID Syndrome. The mechanisms behind these persistent symptoms are not fully understood, but theories suggest that an unusual immune response or residual presence of the virus might play a role. Diagnosis involves recognizing the continuation of symptoms after the acute infection phase and ruling out other potential explanations. The lack of specific therapies further complicates the situation, leading treatment to focus on addressing individual symptoms through a combination of therapies, including rehabilitation, physical therapy, psychological support, and lifestyle adjustments. Continuing, Post-COVID Syndrome poses a significant medical challenge after the global pandemic. Its lasting and diverse symptoms highlight the need for ongoing research and multidisciplinary approaches to diagnosis and care. As healthcare professionals and researchers collaborate to illuminate this condition, they strive to improve the quality of life for those who continue to face lasting consequences. In this study, research conducted in the pulmonology post-Covid clinic at the Dubrovnik General Hospital is presented among patients who sought medical attention due to issues arising after recovering from Covid-19. The results obtained from this research are presented in the form of the most common symptoms, pulmonary function tests, and the depiction of pathological abnormalities in radiological findings characteristic of post-Covid syndrome