The effect of chronic diseases on the severity of Covid-19 disease

The infection with SARS-COV-2 was first recorded in Libya on March 24, 2020, while the first case in

the Tarhuna region was recorded on 28/06/2020. The severe cases of corona disease require an intensive

care unit (ICU) and they are mainly are old aged cases, with at least one chronic comorbidity. This study

aimed to determine the impact of chronic diseases on the severity of covid-19 disease symptoms in

infected people with the coronavirus in Tarhuna region. Data of 149 infected people with Covid-19

disease up to 31-05-2021 were collected. The ratio of Covid-19 positive cases was 1128 (0.49%) out of

the total population of the Tarhuna region, while the study sample represented 149 (13.21%) from the

total infected people in Tarhuna. The results showed that symptoms of fever, headache, and dyspnea were

common among infected cases. Symptoms of loss of sense of smell and taste, coughing and general

fatigue were more common in males than females. 71.81% of infected cases were chronic diseases

patients and have suffered from four or more severe symptoms, which lasted for long periods. The finding

highlights the impact of chronic disease on the severity of symptoms of coronavirus infection. Further

studies should be carried out to establish this impact on large scale samples.