Abstract
BACKGROUND: Post-COVID-19 conditions (PCCs), also known as long COVID, is persistently debilitating disorders that need investigation on their incidence, morbidity, and case-fatality rate. PURPOSE: The objectives of this cohort study were to determine the incidence, characteristics, case-fatality, morbidity, and recovery of post-COVID-19 symptoms throughout a two-year period of observation. METHODS: This was a population-based cohort study of post-COVID-19 cases among 12,925 SARS-CoV-2 positive individuals in eight administrative districts of Bangladesh between July and December 2021-2023. PCC was diagnosed according to WHO clinical diagnostic criteria, and the screening procedure was completed through a household screening process. RESULTS: The incidence of PCC was 3.6%, the case-fatality rate was 1.92%, and the recovery rate was 9.0%. The significant predictors of PCC morbidity were geographical distribution, vaccination, comorbidities, and a longer duration of symptoms or multiple symptoms (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Nearly 465 out of 522 people suffering from PCC are persistent and have a significant disability. However, the rate of recovery was 9.0%. It is necessary to investigate approaches to improve the recovery of PCC in Bangladesh.