Long COVID In Adults at 12 Months After Mild-to-Moderate SARS-CoV-2 Infection (preprint)

BackgroundIn a proportion of patients recovered from the acute COVID-19 phase, a variable range of symptoms has been observed to persist for at least 6-months. ObjectivesThe main aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of COVID-related symptoms 12-months after the onset of mild-to-moderate disease. MethodsProspective study based on structured questionnaires and additional outcomes. Results304/354 patients completing the survey at baseline also completed the follow-up interview (85.9%; median [range] age, 47 [18-76] years; 185 [60.9%] women). Persistence of at least one symptom at 12-months follow-up was reported by 161 patients (53.0%). The most commonly reported symptom of long COVID was felt tired (n=83, 27.3%), followed by smell or taste impairment (n=67, 22.0%), shortness of breath (n=39, 12.8%) and muscle pain (n=28, 9.2%). Being females (OR=1.64; 95% CI: 1.00-2.70), aged between 40-54 (OR=1.92; 95% CI: 1.07-3.44), having a BMI [≥]25 (OR=1.67; 95% CI: 1.00-2.78), and experiencing more symptoms during the acute phase of the disease (OR=8.71 for [≥]8 symptoms; 95% CI: 2.73-27.76) were associated with long COVID. Persistence of symptoms showed a significant impact on quality of life (p<0.0001) and depression scale scores (p=0.0102). ConclusionMore than half of patients with previous mild-to-moderate symptomatic COVID-19 complained the persistence of at least one symptom 12-months after the onset of the illness.

Self-reported smell and taste recovery in COVID-19 patients: a one-year prospective study (preprint)

Purpose The aim of the present study was to estimate the one-year prevalence and recovery rate of self-reported chemosensory dysfunction in a series of subjects with previous mild-to-moderate symptomatic COVID-19. Methods Prospective study based on the SNOT-22 (item sense of smell or taste) and additional outcomes. Results 268/315 patients (85.1%) completing the survey at baseline also completed the follow-up interview. The 12-months prevalence of self-reported COVID-19 associated chemosensory dysfunction was 21.3% (95% CI: 16.5-26.7%). Of the 187 patients who complained of COVID-19 associated chemosensory dysfunction at baseline, 130 (69.5%; 95% CI 62.4-76.0%) reported complete resolution of smell or taste impairment, 41 (21.9%) reported a decrease in the severity, and 16 (8.6%) reported the symptom was unchanged or worse one year after onset. The risk of persistence was higher for patients reporting a baseline SNOT-22 score > o = 4 (OR=3.32; 95% CI: 1.32-8.36) as well as for those requiring > o = 22 days for a negative swab (OR=2.18; 95% CI: 1.12-4.27). Conclusion A substantial proportion of patients with previous mild-to-moderate symptomatic COVID-19 characterized by new onset of chemosensory dysfunction still complained on altered sense of smell or taste one-year after the onset.