CHSU Discovery

COVID-19, also known as SARS-CoV-2, is a novel coronavirus that has had a profound impact on the healthcare field. While it is primarily a respiratory infection that commonly presents with symptoms such as dry cough, shortness of breath, and body aches, many other fields of medicine have been affected as well, including cardiovascular, renal, and neurological systems.11 • In recent years, it has become clear that individuals with comorbidities are at greater risk for long-term sequelae associated with COVID-19 infection. • The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on healthcare systems and society with nearly seven million deaths reported globally as of April 2023.12 • The pandemic has highlighted the importance of addressing comorbidities as a means of reducing the risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19. • Long-term COVID-19 sequelae, including post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), have the potential to significantly strain healthcare systems and have long-term economic and societal impacts. • Hypothesis: • Our hypothesis is that patients with comorbidities are at increased risk for both COVID-19 infection and subsequent long-term sequelae due to the multisystem effects of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.