Prevalence and severity of symptoms 3 months after infection with SARS-CoV-2 .... in the Netherlands 2022 van der Maaden, Knoop et al

Full title: Prevalence and severity of symptoms 3 months after infection with SARS-CoV-2 compared to test-negative and population controls in the Netherlands

ABSTRACT

Background
This prospective study assesses symptoms three months after SARS-CoV-2-infection compared to test-negative and population controls, and the effect of vaccination prior to infection.

Methods
Participants enrolled after a positive (cases) or negative (test-negative controls) SARS-CoV-2-test, or after invitation from the general population (population controls). After three months, participants indicated presence of 41 symptoms, and severity of four symptoms. Permutation tests were used to select symptoms significantly elevated in cases compared to controls and to compare symptoms between cases that were vaccinated or unvaccinated prior to infection.

Results
9166 cases, 1698 symptomatic but test-negative controls, and 3708 population controls enrolled. At three months, 13 symptoms, and severity of fatigue, cognitive impairment and dyspnoea, were significantly elevated between cases and controls. Of cases, 48.5% reported ≥1 significantly elevated symptom, compared to 29.8% of test-negative controls and 26.0% of population controls. Effect of vaccination could be determined for cases <65yrs, and was significantly protective for loss of smell and taste but not for other symptoms.

Discussion
Three months after SARS-CoV-2 infection, almost half of cases report symptoms, which is higher than background prevalence and test-negative prevalence. Vaccination prior to infection was protective against loss of smell and taste in cases aged <65.

Open access, https://academic.oup.com/jid/advance-article/doi/10.1093/infdis/jiac474/6880553