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Symptoms Compatible With Long Coronavirus Disease (COVID) in Healthcare Workers With and Without Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection-Results of a Prospective Multicenter Cohort.
Strahm, Carol; Seneghini, Marco; Güsewell, Sabine; Egger, Thomas; Leal-Neto, Onicio; Brucher, Angela; Lemmenmeier, Eva; Meier Kleeb, Dorette; Möller, J Carsten; Rieder, Philip; Ruetti, Markus; Rutz, Remus; Schmid, Hans Ruedi; Stocker, Reto; Vuichard-Gysin, Danielle; Wiggli, Benedikt; Besold, Ulrike; Kuster, Stefan P; McGeer, Allison; Risch, Lorenz; Friedl, Andrée; Schlegel, Matthias; Schmid, Dagmar; Vernazza, Pietro; Kahlert, Christian R; Kohler, Philipp.
  • Strahm C; Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Cantonal Hospital St Gallen, St Gallen, Switzerland.
  • Seneghini M; Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Cantonal Hospital St Gallen, St Gallen, Switzerland.
  • Güsewell S; Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Cantonal Hospital St Gallen, St Gallen, Switzerland.
  • Egger T; Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Cantonal Hospital St Gallen, St Gallen, Switzerland.
  • Leal-Neto O; Epitrack, Recife, Brazil.
  • Brucher A; Department of Economics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
  • Lemmenmeier E; Psychiatry Services of the Canton of St Gallen (South), St Gallen, Switzerland.
  • Meier Kleeb D; Clienia Littenheid AG, Private Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Littenheid, Switzerland.
  • Möller JC; Division of Occupational Health, Kantonsspital Baden, Baden, Switzerland.
  • Rieder P; Center for Neurological Rehabilitation, Zihlschlacht, Switzerland.
  • Ruetti M; Hirslanden Clinic, Zurich, Switzerland.
  • Rutz R; Fuerstenland Toggenburg Hospital Group, Wil, Switzerland.
  • Schmid HR; Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Cantonal Hospital St Gallen, St Gallen, Switzerland.
  • Stocker R; Central Laboratory, Kantonsspital Baden, Baden, Switzerland.
  • Vuichard-Gysin D; Hirslanden Clinic, Zurich, Switzerland.
  • Wiggli B; Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Thurgau Hospital Group, Muensterlingen, Switzerland.
  • Besold U; Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Kantonsspital Baden, Baden, Switzerland.
  • Kuster SP; Geriatric Clinic St Gallen, St Gallen, Switzerland.
  • McGeer A; Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Cantonal Hospital St Gallen, St Gallen, Switzerland.
  • Risch L; Federal Office of Public Health, Bern, Switzerland.
  • Friedl A; Sinai Health System, Toronto, Canada.
  • Schlegel M; Labormedizinisches Zentrum Dr Risch Ostschweiz AG, Buchs, Switzerland.
  • Schmid D; Private Universität im Fürstentum Liechtenstein, Triesen, Liechtenstein.
  • Vernazza P; Center of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University of Bern, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland.
  • Kahlert CR; Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Kantonsspital Baden, Baden, Switzerland.
  • Kohler P; Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Cantonal Hospital St Gallen, St Gallen, Switzerland.
Clin Infect Dis ; 75(1): e1011-e1019, 2022 Aug 24.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1816031
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

The burden of long-term symptoms (ie, long COVID) in patients after mild COVID-19 is debated. Within a cohort of healthcare workers (HCWs), frequency and risk factors for symptoms compatible with long COVID are assessed.

METHODS:

Participants answered baseline (August/September 2020) and weekly questionnaires on SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) results and acute disease symptoms. In January 2021, SARS-CoV-2 serology was performed; in March, symptoms compatible with long COVID (including psychometric scores) were asked and compared between HCWs with positive NPS, seropositive HCWs without positive NPS (presumable asymptomatic/pauci-symptomatic infections), and negative controls. The effect of time since diagnosis and quantitative anti-spike protein antibodies (anti-S) was evaluated. Poisson regression was used to identify risk factors for symptom occurrence.

RESULTS:

Of 3334 HCWs (median, 41 years; 80% female), 556 (17%) had a positive NPS and 228 (7%) were only seropositive. HCWs with positive NPS more frequently reported ≥1 symptom compared with controls (73% vs 52%, P < .001); seropositive HCWs without positive NPS did not score higher than controls (58% vs 52%, P = .13), although impaired taste/olfaction (16% vs 6%, P < .001) and hair loss (17% vs 10%, P = .004) were more common. Exhaustion/burnout was reported by 24% of negative controls. Many symptoms remained elevated in those diagnosed >6 months ago; anti-S titers correlated with high symptom scores. Acute viral symptoms in weekly questionnaires best predicted long-COVID symptoms. Physical activity at baseline was negatively associated with neurocognitive impairment and fatigue scores.

CONCLUSIONS:

Seropositive HCWs without positive NPS are only mildly affected by long COVID. Exhaustion/burnout is common, even in noninfected HCWs. Physical activity might be protective against neurocognitive impairment/fatigue symptoms after COVID-19.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 / Olfaction Disorders Type of study: Cohort study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Long Covid Limits: Female / Humans / Male Language: English Journal: Clin Infect Dis Journal subject: Communicable Diseases Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Cid

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 / Olfaction Disorders Type of study: Cohort study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Long Covid Limits: Female / Humans / Male Language: English Journal: Clin Infect Dis Journal subject: Communicable Diseases Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Cid