biostudies-literatureUnknownColizzi M<h4>Introduction</h4>Emerging evidence suggests that mental health symptoms in COVID-19 survivors are higher than expected, possibly indicating that such symptoms are more likely to develop post-infection than just persist as a residual component of the acute phase. It is thus imperative to investigate the potential development of a post-COVID mental health syndrome in the longer-term and identify its risk factors.<h4>Material and methods</h4>A prospective study investigated mental health symptoms associated with COVID-19 and its determinants over a 12-month period following the disease onset in all consecutive adult inpatients and outpatients with COVID-19 attending a tertiary referral hospital from March to May 2020.<h4>Results</h4>A total of 479 patients (female, 52.6%) were followed-up for 12 months after COVID-19 onset. Of them, 47.2% were still presenting with at least one symptom. While most symptoms subsided as compared to COVID-19 onset (all <i>p</i> < 0.001), a significant increase was observed only for symptoms of psychiatric disorders (10.2%) and lack of concentration and focus (20%; all <i>p</i> < 0.001). Patients presenting with symptoms related to multiple body systems 12 months after contracting COVID-19 (all <i>p</i> ≤ 0.034) were more likely to suffer from mental health domain-related symptoms at follow-up. Also, a higher risk of presenting with lack of concentration and focus 12 months post infection was found in those suffering of psychiatric symptoms at COVID-19 onset (<i>p</i> = 0.005).<h4>Conclusions</h4>Findings of this study may have important public health implications, as they underlie the increased need for mental health support in COVID-19 survivors.Revista de psiquiatria y salud mentalhttps://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9212931biostudies-literatureMental health symptoms one year after acute COVID-19 infection: Prevalence and risk factors.PMC9212931De Martino MBalestrieri MColizzi MTascini CIsola MGerussi VPalese APeghin MBontempo GfalseMental health symptoms one year after acute COVID-19 infection: Prevalence and risk factors.<h4>Introduction</h4>Emerging evidence suggests that mental health symptoms in COVID-19 survivors are higher than expected, possibly indicating that such symptoms are more likely to develop post-infection than just persist as a residual component of the acute phase. It is thus imperative to investigate the potential development of a post-COVID mental health syndrome in the longer-term and identify its risk factors.<h4>Material and methods</h4>A prospective study investigated mental health symptoms associated with COVID-19 and its determinants over a 12-month period following the disease onset in all consecutive adult inpatients and outpatients with COVID-19 attending a tertiary referral hospital from March to May 2020.<h4>Results</h4>A total of 479 patients (female, 52.6%) were followed-up for 12 months after COVID-19 onset. Of them, 47.2% were still presenting with at least one symptom. While most symptoms subsided as compared to COVID-19 onset (all <i>p</i> < 0.001), a significant increase was observed only for symptoms of psychiatric disorders (10.2%) and lack of concentration and focus (20%; all <i>p</i> < 0.001). Patients presenting with symptoms related to multiple body systems 12 months after contracting COVID-19 (all <i>p</i> ≤ 0.034) were more likely to suffer from mental health domain-related symptoms at follow-up. Also, a higher risk of presenting with lack of concentration and focus 12 months post infection was found in those suffering of psychiatric symptoms at COVID-19 onset (<i>p</i> = 0.005).<h4>Conclusions</h4>Findings of this study may have important public health implications, as they underlie the increased need for mental health support in COVID-19 survivors.2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Jun2022-07-10T08:50:55.958Z2022-07-10T08:50:55.958ZS-EPMC92129313575549210.1016/j.rpsm.2022.05.008