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SARS-CoV-2 Infection and the Risk of New Chronic Conditions: Insights from a Longitudinal Population-Based Study

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  • David De Ridder

    (Geographic Information Research and Analysis in Population Health (GIRAPH) Lab, Department of Community Health and Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
    Unit of Population Epidemiology, Division of Primary Care Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland)

  • Anshu Uppal

    (Unit of Population Epidemiology, Division of Primary Care Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland)

  • Serguei Rouzinov

    (Unit of Population Epidemiology, Division of Primary Care Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland)

  • Julien Lamour

    (Unit of Population Epidemiology, Division of Primary Care Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland)

  • María-Eugenia Zaballa

    (Unit of Population Epidemiology, Division of Primary Care Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland)

  • Hélène Baysson

    (Unit of Population Epidemiology, Division of Primary Care Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland)

  • Stéphane Joost

    (Geographic Information Research and Analysis in Population Health (GIRAPH) Lab, Department of Community Health and Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
    Unit of Population Epidemiology, Division of Primary Care Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
    Geospatial Molecular Epidemiology (GEOME), Laboratory for Biological Geochemistry (LGB), School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
    La Source School of Nursing, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland (HES-SO), 1004 Lausanne, Switzerland)

  • Silvia Stringhini

    (Unit of Population Epidemiology, Division of Primary Care Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
    School of Population and Public Health, and Edwin S.H, Leong Centre for Healthy Aging, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
    Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland)

  • Idris Guessous

    (Geographic Information Research and Analysis in Population Health (GIRAPH) Lab, Department of Community Health and Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
    Unit of Population Epidemiology, Division of Primary Care Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
    Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Mayssam Nehme

    (Unit of Population Epidemiology, Division of Primary Care Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
    These authors contributed equally to this work.
    Collaborators of the Specchio-COVID19 Study Group is provided in the Acknowledgments.)

Abstract

Background: The post-acute impact of SARS-CoV-2 infections on chronic conditions remains poorly understood, particularly in general populations. Objectives: Our primary aim was to assess the association between SARS-CoV-2 infections and new diagnoses of chronic conditions. Our two secondary aims were to explore geographic variations in this association and to assess the association between SARS-CoV-2 infections and the exacerbation of pre-existing conditions. Methods: This longitudinal study used data from 8086 participants of the Specchio-COVID-19 cohort in the canton of Geneva, Switzerland (2021–2023). Mixed-effects logistic regressions and geographically weighted regressions adjusted for sociodemographic, socioeconomic, and healthcare access covariates were used to analyze self-reported SARS-CoV-2 infections, new diagnoses of chronic conditions, and the exacerbation of pre-existing ones. Results: Participants reporting a SARS-CoV-2 infection were more likely to be diagnosed with a new chronic condition compared to those who did not report an infection (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.15, 95% CI 1.43–3.23, adjusted p -value = 0.002). Notable geographic variations were identified in the association between SARS-CoV-2 infections and new diagnoses. While a positive association was initially observed between SARS-CoV-2 infections and exacerbation of pre-existing chronic conditions, this association did not remain significant after adjusting p -values for multiple comparisons. Conclusions: These findings contribute to understanding COVID-19’s post-acute impact on chronic conditions, highlighting the need for targeted health management approaches and calling for tailored public health strategies to address the pandemic’s long-term effects.

Suggested Citation

  • David De Ridder & Anshu Uppal & Serguei Rouzinov & Julien Lamour & María-Eugenia Zaballa & Hélène Baysson & Stéphane Joost & Silvia Stringhini & Idris Guessous & Mayssam Nehme, 2025. "SARS-CoV-2 Infection and the Risk of New Chronic Conditions: Insights from a Longitudinal Population-Based Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(2), pages 1-17, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:2:p:166-:d:1577747
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Laura Pérez-Gisbert & Irene Torres-Sánchez & Araceli Ortiz-Rubio & Andrés Calvache-Mateo & Laura López-López & Irene Cabrera-Martos & Marie Carmen Valenza, 2021. "Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physical Activity in Chronic Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-18, November.
    2. Sarah L. Jackson & Sahar Derakhshan & Leah Blackwood & Logan Lee & Qian Huang & Margot Habets & Susan L. Cutter, 2021. "Spatial Disparities of COVID-19 Cases and Fatalities in United States Counties," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-21, August.
    3. Kiran Saqib & Afaf Saqib Qureshi & Zahid Ahmad Butt, 2023. "COVID-19, Mental Health, and Chronic Illnesses: A Syndemic Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-13, February.
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