Long COVID in South Africa: Findings from a Longitudinal Cohort of Patients at One Month after Hospitalisation with SARS-COV-2, Using an Isaric Multi-Country Protocol

This study is described by the authors as as "a prospective, observational cohort study." The DATCOV national hospital surveillance system was used to identify SARS-CoV-2-infected, hospitalized patients for follow-up, and to obtain patient data on demographics, comorbidities, and hospital admission. The study population included individuals hospitalized in public and private health facilities nationwide admitted for at least one day between the period of December 1, 2020 and April 27, 2021. Follow-up surveys were conducted by telephone interview at one month following discharge from the hospital and additional follow-up interviews are scheduled at 3, 6, and 12 months post-discharge. This bulletin only included tabulations regarding the one-month follow-up interviews.