Attributes and predictors of Long-COVID: analysis of COVID cases and their symptoms collected by the Covid Symptoms Study App (21 October 2020)

Summary

Reports of 'Long-COVID' are rising but little is known about prevalence, risk factors, or whether it is possible to predict a protracted course early in the disease.

Content

Sudre et al. analysed data from 4182 incident cases of COVID-19 who logged their symptoms prospectively in the COVID Symptom Study app.

558 (13.3%) had symptoms lasting >28 days, 189 (4.5%) for >8 weeks and 95 (2.3%) for >12 weeks.

Long-COVID was characterised by symptoms of fatigue, headache, dyspnoea and anosmia and was more likely with increasing age, BMI and female sex. Experiencing more than five symptoms during the first week of illness was associated with Long-COVID.

This model could be used to identify individuals for clinical trials to reduce long-term symptoms and target education and rehabilitation services.

*Note: this article is a preprint and has not been through the peer review process yet.