Post-chikungunya chronic inflammatory rheumatism: Follow-up of cases after 1 year of infection in Tolima, Colombia

Introduction: Chronic Inflammatory Rheumatism (CIR) is one of the recognized and increasingly reported consequence post-chikungunya infection (pCHIK) in Colombia and Latin America. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 128 patients with CHIK that persisted with pCHIK-CIR after 59–68 weeks (1.13–1.31 years). This information was evaluated by means of a telephone survey and according to validated criteria (WHO 2015) previously (patients with >12 weeks post-CHIK with ≥1 manifestations [continuous/recurrent]: chronic polyarthralgia [pCHIK-CPA], stiffness and/or joint edema). Results: Of the total CHIK-infected subjects finally included (n = 65), 28 (43.1%) reported pCHIK-CPA; and 38 patients (58.5%) at least one persistent rheumatological symptoms over the last year (pCHIK-CIR); 38.5% of them, morning stiffness, 18.5% joint edema, and 3.1% joint redness. No significant sex differences were found; 60% of patients with pCHIK-CPA aged> 40 years (RR = 3.75; 95%CI 1.47–9.53). The 29.2% of patients required medical attention because of symptoms. Conclusions: Nearly half of patients with CHIK had at least one rheumatologic symptom persistent over a year, and the third of them, pCHIK-CPA. These results are comparable with previous estimates obtained in other cohorts in the country (Risaralda and Sucre) and are consistent with results from other studies in France and India.