Post-acute sequelae of covid-19 six to 12 months after infection: population based study. (13th October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Peter, Raphael S; Nieters, Alexandra; Kräusslich, Hans-Georg; Brockmann, Stefan O; Göpel, Siri; Kindle, Gerhard; Merle, Uta; Steinacker, Jürgen M; Rothenbacher, Dietrich; Kern, Winfried V
• Other Names: author non-byline.; August Dietrich author non-byline.; Bauer Christoph author non-byline.; Blankenhorn Benedict author non-byline.; Bopp-Haas Ulrike author non-byline.; Bunk Stefanie author non-byline.; Deibert Peter author non-byline.; Dietz Armin author non-byline.; Friedmann-Bette Birgit author non-byline.; Giesen Roland author non-byline.; Götz Veronika author non-byline.; Grote Sylvia author non-byline.; Grüner Beate author non-byline.; Junginger Alexandra author non-byline.; Kappert Oliver author non-byline.; Kirsten Johannes author non-byline.; Kühn Anne author non-byline.; Malek Nisar P author non-byline.; Müller Barbara author non-byline.; Niess Andreas author non-byline.; Pfau Stefanie author non-byline.; Piechotowski Isolde author non-byline.; Rieg Siegbert author non-byline.; Röttele Sibylle author non-byline.; Schellenberg Jana author non-byline.; Schilling Claudia author non-byline.; Schröder Chantal author non-byline.; Schwertz Rainer author non-byline.; Spannenkrebs Monika author non-byline.; Wagner Gabriele author non-byline.; Walter-Frank Birgit author non-byline.; Wolfers Kersten author non-byline.;
• Is Part Of: BMJ. Volume 379(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-10-13
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine; Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2022-071050
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1447

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: To describe symptoms and symptom clusters of post-covid syndrome six to 12 months after acute infection, describe risk factors, and examine the association of symptom clusters with general health and working capacity. Design: Population based, cross sectional study Setting: Adults aged 18-65 years with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between October 2020 and March 2021 notified to health authorities in four geographically defined regions in southern Germany. Participants: 50 457 patients were invited to participate in the study, of whom 12 053 (24%) responded and 11 710 (58.8% (n=6881) female; mean age 44.1 years; 3.6% (412/11 602) previously admitted with covid-19; mean follow-up time 8.5 months) could be included in the analyses. Main outcome measures: Symptom frequencies (six to 12 months after versus before acute infection), symptom severity and clustering, risk factors, and associations with general health recovery and working capacity. Results: The symptom clusters fatigue (37.2% (4213/11 312), 95% confidence interval 36.4% to 38.1%) and neurocognitive impairment (31.3% (3561/11 361), 30.5% to 32.2%) contributed most to reduced health recovery and working capacity, but chest symptoms, anxiety/depression, headache/dizziness, and pain syndromes were also prevalent and relevant for working capacity, with some differences according to sex and age. Considering new symptoms with at least moderate impairment of daily life and ≤80% recovered general health or working capacity, the overall estimate for post-covid syndrome was 28.5% (3289/11 536, 27.7% to 29.3%) among participants or at least 6.5% (3289/50 457) in the infected adult population (assuming that all non-responders had completely recovered). The true value is likely to be between these estimates. Conclusions: Despite the limitation of a low response rate and possible selection and recall biases, this study suggests a considerable burden of self-reported post-acute symptom clusters and possible sequelae, notably fatigue and neurocognitive impairment, six to 12 months after acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, even among young and middle aged adults after mild infection, with a substantial impact on general health and working capacity. Trial registration: German registry of clinical studies DRKS 00027012.