Projects per year
Abstract
Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection has been associated with persistent symptoms (long-COVID). We assessed the burden of long-COVID among non-hospitalized PCR-confirmed adults.
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 COVID-19 associated symptom questions. Non-hospitalized respondents with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR-test three or more months before the survey (cases) were matched (1:10) to seronegative controls on age, sex, and BMI. Propensity score weighted odds ratios (OR) and ORs for risk factors were estimated for each health outcome.
Findings: In total, 728 cases and 7280 controls were included. The attributable risk of at least one long-COVID symptom was 25·1 per 100 cases (95% confidence interval (CI): 22·3, 27·6). Compared to controls, cases reported worse general health (OR: 6·0, CI: 5·0, 7·2) and had higher odds for a broad range of symptoms, particularly loss of taste (OR: 12·2, CI: 9·8, 15·2) and smell (OR: 11·7, CI: 9·4, 14·5). Physical and Mental Component Summary scores were also significantly reduced with differences of -2·5 (CI: -3·1, -1·8) and -2·3 (CI: -3·1, -1·6) respectively. Female sex and severity of initial infection were major risk factors for long-COVID symptoms.
Interpretation: Non-hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive individuals had significantly reduced physical and mental health, and one in four reported persistence of at least one long-COVID symptom.
Funding Information: This study was supported by grants from the Danish Ministry of Health (2012461) and the Tryg Foundation. MvW and LS were supported by the Independent Research Fund Denmark (grant # 8020-00284), and the Carlsberg Foundation, Semper Ardens Research Project (grant # CF20- 0046). The funders did not influence study design, conduct or reporting.
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 COVID-19 associated symptom questions. Non-hospitalized respondents with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR-test three or more months before the survey (cases) were matched (1:10) to seronegative controls on age, sex, and BMI. Propensity score weighted odds ratios (OR) and ORs for risk factors were estimated for each health outcome.
Findings: In total, 728 cases and 7280 controls were included. The attributable risk of at least one long-COVID symptom was 25·1 per 100 cases (95% confidence interval (CI): 22·3, 27·6). Compared to controls, cases reported worse general health (OR: 6·0, CI: 5·0, 7·2) and had higher odds for a broad range of symptoms, particularly loss of taste (OR: 12·2, CI: 9·8, 15·2) and smell (OR: 11·7, CI: 9·4, 14·5). Physical and Mental Component Summary scores were also significantly reduced with differences of -2·5 (CI: -3·1, -1·8) and -2·3 (CI: -3·1, -1·6) respectively. Female sex and severity of initial infection were major risk factors for long-COVID symptoms.
Interpretation: Non-hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive individuals had significantly reduced physical and mental health, and one in four reported persistence of at least one long-COVID symptom.
Funding Information: This study was supported by grants from the Danish Ministry of Health (2012461) and the Tryg Foundation. MvW and LS were supported by the Independent Research Fund Denmark (grant # 8020-00284), and the Carlsberg Foundation, Semper Ardens Research Project (grant # CF20- 0046). The funders did not influence study design, conduct or reporting.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | ofac679 |
| Journal | Open Forum Infectious Diseases |
| Volume | 10 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| ISSN | 2328-8957 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jan 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Link to preprint version of the article (The Lancet): https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4060088-
Carlsberg PandemiX: A Quantitative study of historical and contemporary pandemics
Simonsen, L., Andreasen, V., Berrig, C., Wijhe, M. V., Qvesel, A. G., Thorn, A. V., Ørskov, S., Ingholt, M. M., Krogfelt, K. A., Nielsen, B. F., Poder, S. K., Mannov Christiansen, C., Pedersen, A. G., Sneppen, K., Fischer, T. K., Pedersen, R. K. & Eilersen, A. T.
01/04/2020 → 30/09/2024
Project: Research
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Long-term Impact of Childhood Vaccination Programs: Using Historical data to Understand Modern Disease Patterns
Simonsen, L., Andreasen, V., Wijhe, M. V., Ingholt, M. M., Perner, M., Lykkeskov, C. R. & Wallinga, J.
Independent Research Fund Denmark
01/06/2018 → 30/06/2022
Project: Research
Activities
- 1 Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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Options Xi: For the control of influenza
Maarten van Wijhe (Participant)
26 Sept 2022 → 29 Sept 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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