Prevalence of Persistent COVID-19 in Punta Arenas, Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic Region (PCOV-19)

A Prevalence Study of Persistent COVID-19 in Punta Arenas, Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic Region

This cross-sectional observational study aims to determine the prevalence of Persistent COVID-19 in 282 individuals in Punta Arenas, Magallanes and Chilean Antarctic Region. Persistent COVID-19 is a complex array of symptoms that persist or emerge for more than 4 weeks beyond SARS-CoV-2 infection. Recent studies suggest that up to 80% of survivors may develop chronic multi-organ dysfunction due to persistent inflammation and immune dysregulation, making it an ongoing public health concern worldwide.

The study aims to (1) describe and establish the frequency of physical and psychological signs and symptoms in adult patients who have tested positive for COVID-19, (2) identify individuals who meet the WHO case definition of Persistent COVID-19 in Chile, (3) explore risk factors associated with persistent COVID-19 to guide intervention strategies, and (4) explore inflammatory and molecular biomarkers associated with persistent COVID-19.

The research project utilizes a stratified random sampling with a mixed-methods embedded design. In the first phase, individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 will be recruited and followed up to complete the study's sample universe. A sociodemographic survey, blood sampling (including complete blood count, biochemical profile, immunoglobulin mutational status analysis, and analysis of inflammatory biomarkers), and a battery of psychological tests will be administered. In the second phase, kinesiology studies and medical consultation and evaluation will be conducted to determine if individuals have Persistent COVID-19 and to derive them to the healthcare network. In the final follow-up phase, participants diagnosed with Persistent COVID-19 will be invited to undergo musculoskeletal and respiratory assessments to complete the diagnosis of symptoms associated with the pathology.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: COVID-19
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Persistent COVID-19

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 282

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Chile
  • Magllanes and Chilean Antartic Region
    • Punta Arenas, Magllanes and Chilean Antartic Region, Chile, 6200000
      • Teaching and Research Healthcare Center of the University of Magallanes (CADI-UMAG)

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

To identify potential participants for this population-based study with stratified random sampling, we also considered the following eligibility criteria: (1) Diagnosed SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by RT-qPCR test (2) residency in Punta Arenas, (3) recruitment messages via phone calls, text messages, emails, and social media postings, and (4) referrals from collaborating healthcare providers.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥ 18 years
• Individuals must be included in the COVID-19 monitoring database by the SEREMI of Health in Punta Arenas between July 2022 and July 2023.
• Patients able to give informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age < 18 years
• Any physical, mental, immunosuppressive, or social condition that, in the investigator's judgment, might interfere with the completion of the baseline assessments and evaluations.
• Individuals who are digitally illiterate and do not have access to nearby networks to support them during the process.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
COVID-19; Adults with at least one positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR test	Other: Persistent COVID-19; To determine the prevalence of persistent COVID-19 diagnosis in the current study, we will identify adults between 18 and 100 years of age who have had at least one positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR test from the COVID-19 database maintained by the SEREMI of Health in Punta Arenas between July 2022 and July 2023.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
To determine the prevalence of persistent COVID-19 in a cohort of patients in Punta Arenas	13 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Sociodemographic data questionnaire	to determine the number of prior illnesses, medical treatments, and vaccination records, as well as the quality of life scales, persistent COVID-19 symptoms through self-reported survey data, and Informed Consent Comprehension Questionnaire.	3 months
Psychological profiles	Beck Anxiety Scale (BAI)	3 months
Psychological profiles	D2-R test of attention	3 months
Psychological profiles	Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)	3 months
Sleep quality and disorders	Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)	3 months
Psychosocial exposures	COVID-19 related stress questionnaire based on the Perceived Stress Scale	3 months
Psychosocial exposures	Normal activities and work productivity questionnaire; daily diaries	3 months
Standard laboratory parameters	Full blood count	3 months
Standard laboratory parameters	Serum chemistry test	3 months
Inflammatory Biomarkers	Interleukin-8 (IL-8)	6 months
Inflammatory Biomarkers	Interleukin-1β (IL-1β)	6 months
Inflammatory Biomarkers	Interleukin-6 (IL-6)	6 months
Inflammatory Biomarkers	Interleukin-10 (IL-10)	6 months
Inflammatory Biomarkers	Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)	6 months
Inflammatory Biomarkers	Interleukin-12 (IL-12p70)	6 months
Immunological repertoire associated with persistent COVID-19	DNA sequencing results	6 months
Flow Cytometry Immunophenotyping	Quantify different lymphocyte subpopulations in persistent COVID-19	6 months
Flow Cytometry Immunophenotyping	Quantify Age-Associated B Cells and Their Potential Role in Persistent COVID-19 Pathogenesis	6 months
Function of the musculoskeletal system	Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS)	6 months
Function of the musculoskeletal system	Body Composition Analysis Assessment	6 months
Function of the musculoskeletal system	Hand Grip Strength Test	6 months
Function of the musculoskeletal system	Maximum inspiratory pressure test (MIP test)	6 months
Diagnosis of prevalent COVID-19	Clinical determination of whether the patient has persistent COVID-19 or not is necessary for referral to the appropriate healthcare system	8 months

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Musculoskeletal Capacity	Heart Rate Variability (HRV) analysis	2 months
Musculoskeletal Capacity	walk test (distance): 3D temporal scanning system for gait analysis by photogrammetry	2 months
Musculoskeletal Capacity	Postural Stability and Control Assessment Using Balance Tests	2 months
Respiratory function:	Spirometry: measurement of respiratory flows and volumes.	2 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Universidad de Magallanes
• Collaborators: University of Chile; Universidad de Santiago de Chile; Centro Asistencial Docente e Investigación de la Universidad Magallanes (CADI-UMAG)

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Gonzalez-Puelma J, Aldridge J, Montes de Oca M, Pinto M, Uribe-Paredes R, Fernandez-Goycoolea J, Alvarez-Saravia D, Alvarez H, Encina G, Weitzel T, Munoz R, Olivera-Nappa A, Pantano S, Navarrete MA. Mutation in a SARS-CoV-2 Haplotype from Sub-Antarctic Chile Reveals New Insights into the Spike's Dynamics. Viruses. 2021 May 11;13(5):883. doi: 10.3390/v13050883.
• Sarmiento Varon L, Gonzalez-Puelma J, Medina-Ortiz D, Aldridge J, Alvarez-Saravia D, Uribe-Paredes R, Navarrete MA. The role of machine learning in health policies during the COVID-19 pandemic and in long COVID management. Front Public Health. 2023 Apr 11;11:1140353. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1140353. eCollection 2023.
• Alvarado-Aravena C, Arriaza K, Castillo-Aguilar M, Flores K, Dagnino-Subiabre A, Estrada-Goic C, Nunez-Espinosa C. Effect of Confinement on Anxiety Symptoms and Sleep Quality during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Behav Sci (Basel). 2022 Oct 17;12(10):398. doi: 10.3390/bs12100398.
• Sarmiento Varon L, Alvarez H, Huirimilla Casanova LC, Diaz Mora MP, Munoz Cuevas LA, Gonzalez-Puelma J, Espinoza K, Amarales L, Luhr Henriquez J, Retamal-Matus F, Uribe-Paredes R, Nunez-Espinosa CA, Estrada-Goic C, Bachelet VC, Lopez Nitsche MN, Navarrete MA. Estimating the prevalence of persistent symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection (post-COVID-19 syndrome): a regional cross-sectional study protocol. BMJ Open. 2025 May 30;15(5):e093844. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-093844.

Helpful Links

• Enrolling for the study

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 15, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 30, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): January 15, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 7, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 9, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): May 11, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 8, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 4, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Respiratory Tract Infections; Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Virus Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases; Pneumonia, Viral; Pneumonia; Coronavirus Infections; Coronaviridae Infections; Nidovirales Infections; COVID-19
• Other Study ID Numbers: FIC-R 40036196-0

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: The data that will be shared is all of the individual participant data collected during the trial, after deidentification.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: Immediately following our data is cleaned, quality checked, and analyzed, we will make the data available to the general research community. All data made available for public use will be de-identified data, i.e., stripped of private, protected health information that could be used to deduce the identity of individual subjects, in compliance with the Rule.
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: PPCov-19 Study website to be determined
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No