Epidemiology of post-COVID conditions beyond 1 year: a cross-sectional study

Abstract:

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of post-COVID conditions beyond 12 months and identify factors associated with the persistence of each condition.

Study design: This was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey.

Methods: We conducted the survey among patients who had recovered from COVID-19 and visited our institute between February 2020 and November 2021. Demographic and clinical data and data regarding the presence and duration of post-COVID conditions were obtained. We identified factors associated with the persistence of post-COVID conditions using multivariable linear regression analyses.

Results: Of 1148 surveyed patients, 502 completed the survey (response rate, 43.7%). Of these, 393 patients (86.4%) had mild disease in the acute phase. The proportion of participants with at least one symptom at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after symptom onset or COVID-19 diagnosis was 32.3% (124/384), 30.5% (71/233), 25.8% (24/93), and 33.3% (2/6), respectively. The observed associations were as follows: fatigue persistence with moderate or severe COVID-19 (β = 0.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.06-0.99); shortness of breath with moderate or severe COVID-19 (β = 1.39, 95% CI = 0.91-1.87); cough with moderate or severe COVID-19 (β = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.40-1.29); dysosmia with being female (β = -0.57, 95% CI = -0.97 to -0.18) and absence of underlying medical conditions (β = -0.43, 95% CI = -0.82 to -0.05); hair loss with being female (β = -0.61, 95% CI = -1.00 to -0.22), absence of underlying medical conditions (β = -0.42, 95% CI = -0.80 to 0.04), and moderate or severe COVID-19 (β = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.41-1.54); depressed mood with younger age (β = -0.02, 95% CI = -0.04 to -0.004); and loss of concentration with being female (β = -0.51, 95% CI = -0.94 to -0.09).

Conclusions: More than one-fourth of patients after recovery from COVID-19, most of whom had had mild disease in the acute phase, had at least one symptom at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after onset of COVID-19, indicating that not a few patients with COVID-19 suffer from long-term residual symptoms, even in mild cases.

Source: Morioka S, Tsuzuki S, Maruki T, Terada M, Miyazato Y, Kutsuna S, Saito S, Shimanishi Y, Takahashi K, Sanada M, Ashida S, Akashi M, Kuge C, Osanai Y, Tanaka K, Suzuki M, Hayakawa K, Ohmagari N. Epidemiology of post-COVID conditions beyond 1 year: a cross-sectional study. Public Health. 2023 Feb 13;216:39-44. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2023.01.008. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36791649. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0033350623000173?via%3Dihub (Full text)

Incidence of long COVID-19 in people with previous SARS-Cov2 infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 120,970 patients

Abstract:

The long-term consequences of the coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) are likely to be frequent but results hitherto are inconclusive. Therefore, we aimed to define the incidence of long-term COVID signs and symptoms as defined by the World Health Organization, using a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

A systematic search in several databases was carried out up to 12 January 2022 for observational studies reporting the cumulative incidence of long COVID signs and symptoms divided according to body systems affected. Data are reported as incidence and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Several sensitivity and meta-regression analyses were performed. Among 11,162 papers initially screened, 196 were included, consisting of 120,970 participants (mean age: 52.3 years; 48.8% females) who were followed-up for a median of six months.

The incidence of any long COVID symptomatology was 56.9% (95% CI 52.2-61.6). General long COVID signs and symptoms were the most frequent (incidence of 31%) and digestive issues the least frequent (7.7%). The presence of any neurological, general and cardiovascular long COVID symptomatology was most frequent in females. Higher mean age was associated with higher incidence of psychiatric, respiratory, general, digestive and skin conditions. The incidence of long COVID symptomatology was different according to continent and follow-up length. Long COVID is a common condition in patients who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2, regardless of the severity of the acute illness, indicating the need for more cohort studies on this topic.

Source: Di Gennaro F, Belati A, Tulone O, Diella L, Fiore Bavaro D, Bonica R, Genna V, Smith L, Trott M, Bruyere O, Mirarchi L, Cusumano C, Dominguez LJ, Saracino A, Veronese N, Barbagallo M. Incidence of long COVID-19 in people with previous SARS-Cov2 infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 120,970 patients. Intern Emerg Med. 2022 Nov 30:1–9. doi: 10.1007/s11739-022-03164-w. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36449260; PMCID: PMC9709360. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9709360/ (Full text)