TY - JOUR

T1 - Persistent Symptoms and Sequelae After Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection Not Requiring Hospitalization

T2 - Results From Testing Denmark, a Danish Cross-sectional Survey

AU - van Wijhe, Maarten

AU - Fogh, Kamille

AU - Ethelberg, Steen

AU - Iversen, Kasper Karmark

AU - Nielsen, Henrik

AU - Østergaard, Lars

AU - Andersen, Berit

AU - Bundgaard, Henning

AU - Jorgensen, Charlotte S.

AU - Scharff, Bibi F. S. S.

AU - Ellermann-Eriksen, Svend

AU - Johansen, Isik S.

AU - Fomsgaard, Anders

AU - Krause, Tyra Grove

AU - Wiese, Lothar

AU - Fischer, Thea K.

AU - Molbak, Kare

AU - Benfield, Thomas

AU - Folke, Fredrik

AU - Lippert, Freddy

AU - Ostrowski, Sisse R.

AU - Koch, Anders

AU - Erikstrup, Christian

AU - Vangsted, Anne-Marie

AU - Sorensen, Anna Irene Vedel

AU - Ullum, Henrik

AU - Skov, Robert Leo

AU - Simonsen, Lone

AU - Nielsen, Susanne Dam

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is associated with persistent symptoms ("long COVID"). We assessed the burden of long COVID among nonhospitalized adults with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods In the fall of 2020, a cross-sectional survey was performed in the adult Danish general population. This included a self-administered point-of-care test for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated symptom questions. Nonhospitalized respondents with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test >= 12 weeks before the survey (cases) were matched (1:10) to seronegative controls on age, sex, and body mass index. Propensity score-weighted odds ratios (ORs) and ORs for risk factors were estimated for each health outcome. Results In total, 742 cases and 7420 controls were included. The attributable risk of at least 1 long-COVID symptom was 25.0 per 100 cases (95% confidence interval [CI], 22.2-27.4). Compared to controls, cases reported worse general health (OR, 5.9 [95% CI, 5.0-7.0]) and had higher odds for a broad range of symptoms, particularly loss of taste (OR, 11.8 [95% CI, 9.5-14.6]) and smell (OR, 11.2 [95% CI, 9.1-13.9]). Physical and Mental Component Summary scores were also significantly reduced with differences of -2.5 (95% CI, -3.1 to -1.8) and -2.0 (95% CI, -2.7 to -1.2), respectively. Female sex and severity of initial infection were major risk factors for long COVID. Conclusions Nonhospitalized SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive individuals had significantly reduced physical and mental health, and 1 in 4 reported persistence of at least 1 long-COVID symptom.In this national cross-sectional survey, long-COVID symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection are common compared to seronegative controls, affecting both physical and mental health. Female sex and severity of infection are dominant risk factors. Informed interdisciplinary management strategies for long COVID are needed.

AB - Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is associated with persistent symptoms ("long COVID"). We assessed the burden of long COVID among nonhospitalized adults with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods In the fall of 2020, a cross-sectional survey was performed in the adult Danish general population. This included a self-administered point-of-care test for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated symptom questions. Nonhospitalized respondents with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test >= 12 weeks before the survey (cases) were matched (1:10) to seronegative controls on age, sex, and body mass index. Propensity score-weighted odds ratios (ORs) and ORs for risk factors were estimated for each health outcome. Results In total, 742 cases and 7420 controls were included. The attributable risk of at least 1 long-COVID symptom was 25.0 per 100 cases (95% confidence interval [CI], 22.2-27.4). Compared to controls, cases reported worse general health (OR, 5.9 [95% CI, 5.0-7.0]) and had higher odds for a broad range of symptoms, particularly loss of taste (OR, 11.8 [95% CI, 9.5-14.6]) and smell (OR, 11.2 [95% CI, 9.1-13.9]). Physical and Mental Component Summary scores were also significantly reduced with differences of -2.5 (95% CI, -3.1 to -1.8) and -2.0 (95% CI, -2.7 to -1.2), respectively. Female sex and severity of initial infection were major risk factors for long COVID. Conclusions Nonhospitalized SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive individuals had significantly reduced physical and mental health, and 1 in 4 reported persistence of at least 1 long-COVID symptom.In this national cross-sectional survey, long-COVID symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection are common compared to seronegative controls, affecting both physical and mental health. Female sex and severity of infection are dominant risk factors. Informed interdisciplinary management strategies for long COVID are needed.

KW - COVID-19

KW - cross-sectional study

KW - health-related quality-of-life

KW - long COVID

KW - nonhospitalized patients

U2 - 10.1093/ofid/ofac679

DO - 10.1093/ofid/ofac679

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 36628054

VL - 10

JO - Open Forum Infectious Diseases

JF - Open Forum Infectious Diseases

SN - 2328-8957

IS - 1

M1 - 679

ER -