Purpose <p>Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (PASC), or long COVID (LC), remains a significant burden for public health, with limited long-term data. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and evolution of PASC symptoms after ancestral SARS-CoV-2 (aSCV2) infection in a longitudinal healthcare worker (HCW) cohort.</p> Methods <p>A multicentre cohort study involving HCWs from 14 institutions was conducted in Switzerland. Infection status was based on self-reported positive swabs, with additional serology used to confirm uninfected controls. Baseline was defined as the first survey conducted in 2022 (median 18.5&#xa0;months post-infection), with follow-up surveys every 6&#xa0;months through November 2024. To identify PASC-specific symptoms, 24 chronic symptoms were compared between 456 aSCV2-infected and 571 uninfected participants using chi-square tests at baseline. In aSCV2-infected individuals reporting PASC-specific symptoms, symptom trajectories and subjective LC were analyzed across follow-up surveys. Functional limitations were assessed using the Post-COVID Functional Status (PCFS) scale.</p> Results <p>Thirteen of 24 symptoms were more common in aSCV2-infected individuals, with fatigue (22.8%), loss of smell/taste (11.4%), and brain fog (8.3%) being most prevalent. At baseline, 186/456 (40.8%) infected participants reported ≥ 1 PASC-specific symptom. Most symptoms declined in prevalence up to the last survey (median 47.5&#xa0;months post-infection), although 41/70 (58.6%) remaining participants still reported ≥ 1 PASC symptom. Subjective LC was reported by 70/186 (37.6%) and was associated with higher symptom burden. PCFS scores showed slight impairments in most cases, although moderate-to-severe limitations often persisted.</p> Conclusions <p>PASC symptoms persisted up to four years after aSCV2 infection in a substantial proportion of HCWs.</p>

错误:搜索内容不能为空,请输入英文关键词
错误:关键词超出字数限制,请精简
高级检索

Persistence of Post-Acute COVID-19 Sequelae (PASC) symptoms in healthcare workers four years after ancestral SARS-CoV-2 infection: a prospective multicentre cohort

  • Philipp Saurer,
  • Tala Ballouz,
  • Alexia Cusini,
  • Sarah R. Haile,
  • Christian R. Kahlert,
  • Matthias von Kietzell,
  • Stefan P. Kuster,
  • Markus Rütti,
  • Matthias Schlegel,
  • Carol Strahm,
  • Reto Stocker,
  • Danielle Vuichard-Gysin,
  • Lorenz Risch,
  • Milo A. Puhan,
  • Tamara Dörr,
  • Philipp Kohler,
  • Stephan Goppel,
  • Fabian Grässli,
  • Joelle Keller,
  • Simone Kessler,
  • J. Carsten Möller,
  • Maja F. Müller,
  • Philip Rieder

摘要

Purpose

Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (PASC), or long COVID (LC), remains a significant burden for public health, with limited long-term data. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and evolution of PASC symptoms after ancestral SARS-CoV-2 (aSCV2) infection in a longitudinal healthcare worker (HCW) cohort.

Methods

A multicentre cohort study involving HCWs from 14 institutions was conducted in Switzerland. Infection status was based on self-reported positive swabs, with additional serology used to confirm uninfected controls. Baseline was defined as the first survey conducted in 2022 (median 18.5 months post-infection), with follow-up surveys every 6 months through November 2024. To identify PASC-specific symptoms, 24 chronic symptoms were compared between 456 aSCV2-infected and 571 uninfected participants using chi-square tests at baseline. In aSCV2-infected individuals reporting PASC-specific symptoms, symptom trajectories and subjective LC were analyzed across follow-up surveys. Functional limitations were assessed using the Post-COVID Functional Status (PCFS) scale.

Results

Thirteen of 24 symptoms were more common in aSCV2-infected individuals, with fatigue (22.8%), loss of smell/taste (11.4%), and brain fog (8.3%) being most prevalent. At baseline, 186/456 (40.8%) infected participants reported ≥ 1 PASC-specific symptom. Most symptoms declined in prevalence up to the last survey (median 47.5 months post-infection), although 41/70 (58.6%) remaining participants still reported ≥ 1 PASC symptom. Subjective LC was reported by 70/186 (37.6%) and was associated with higher symptom burden. PCFS scores showed slight impairments in most cases, although moderate-to-severe limitations often persisted.

Conclusions

PASC symptoms persisted up to four years after aSCV2 infection in a substantial proportion of HCWs.