Background: Post-COVID (coronavirus disease) syndrome is a not well-defined condition, which is characterized by persisting symptoms after the recovery of COVID-19. As pathogenesis is not known, associated patient characteristics are still under investigation.

Methods: Patients formerly hospitalized at the Department of Pulmonology, Semmelweis University and presented at the post-COVID care (N=267) between 01/02/2021-30/06/2022 were enrolled. Patients were divided according receiving remdesivir (RDV; N=168) or standard of care (SOC; N=99). Patient characteristics, therapy, visual analogue scale (VAS), detailed lung function and 6-minute walk test (6MWT) were performed at the post-COVID care.

Results: Age (56.2±28.4; 57.8±26.2 years) and sex (female 36; 35%) were similar in both groups. RDV treated patients spent significantly less time in hospital (14±13 vs 19±16 days, p=0.01). Patients on SOC attended post-COVID care significantly later following infection (172±111 vs 217±147 days, p<0.01). The most frequent symptoms in post-COVID patients were respiratory (dyspnoea, cough) and fatigue; however, all symptoms at initial COVID infection were similar. At the post-COVID care patients on SOC had significantly more symptoms, including respiratory (28 vs 43%, p<0.01), fatigue (29 vs 59%, p<0.01) and sleep disorders (13 vs 40%, p<0.01). Lung function and 6MWT values did not differ, however VAS was significantly less frequently below the Hungarian average (20 vs 31%, p=0.03) in RDV treated patients.

Conclusion: Patients receiving RDV have reported less post-COVID symptoms and better patient reported outcome as compared to patients treated with SOC, however functionality was not different.