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A nationwide questionnaire study of post-acute symptoms and health problems after SARS-CoV-2 infection in Denmark

Author

Listed:
  • Anna Irene Vedel Sørensen

    (Statens Serum Institut)

  • Lampros Spiliopoulos

    (Statens Serum Institut)

  • Peter Bager

    (Statens Serum Institut
    Statens Serum Institut)

  • Nete Munk Nielsen

    (Statens Serum Institut
    Hospital of Southern Jutland, University of Southern Denmark)

  • Jørgen Vinsløv Hansen

    (Statens Serum Institut)

  • Anders Koch

    (Statens Serum Institut
    Rigshospitalet University Hospital
    Global Health Section, University of Copenhagen)

  • Inger Kristine Meder

    (Statens Serum Institut)

  • Steen Ethelberg

    (Statens Serum Institut
    Global Health Section, University of Copenhagen)

  • Anders Hviid

    (Statens Serum Institut
    University of Copenhagen)

Abstract

A considerable number of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 continue to experience symptoms after the acute phase. Here, we report findings from a nationwide questionnaire study in Denmark including 61,002 RT-PCR confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases and 91,878 test-negative controls aged 15-years or older. Six to twelve months after the test, the risks of 18 out of 21 symptoms were elevated among test-positives. The largest adjusted risk differences (RD) were observed for dysosmia (RD = 10.92%, 95% CI 10.68–11.21%), dysgeusia (RD = 8.68%, 95% CI 8.43–8.93%), fatigue/exhaustion (RD = 8.43%, 95%CI 8.14–8.74%), dyspnea (RD = 4.87%, 95% CI 4.65–5.09%) and reduced strength in arms/legs (RD = 4.68%, 95% CI 4.45–4.89%). During the period from the test and until completion of the questionnaire, new diagnoses of anxiety (RD = 1.15%, 95% CI 0.95–1.34%) or depression (RD = 1.00%, 95% CI 0.81–1.19%) were also more common among test-positives. Even in a population where the majority of test-positives were not hospitalized, a considerable proportion experiences symptoms up to 12 months after infection. Being female or middle-aged increases risks.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Irene Vedel Sørensen & Lampros Spiliopoulos & Peter Bager & Nete Munk Nielsen & Jørgen Vinsløv Hansen & Anders Koch & Inger Kristine Meder & Steen Ethelberg & Anders Hviid, 2022. "A nationwide questionnaire study of post-acute symptoms and health problems after SARS-CoV-2 infection in Denmark," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-31897-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31897-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Matthew Whitaker & Joshua Elliott & Marc Chadeau-Hyam & Steven Riley & Ara Darzi & Graham Cooke & Helen Ward & Paul Elliott, 2022. "Persistent COVID-19 symptoms in a community study of 606,434 people in England," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    2. Michael Marshall, 2020. "The lasting misery of coronavirus long-haulers," Nature, Nature, vol. 585(7825), pages 339-341, September.
    3. Ziyad Al-Aly & Yan Xie & Benjamin Bowe, 2021. "High-dimensional characterization of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19," Nature, Nature, vol. 594(7862), pages 259-264, June.
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