Natural history of long-COVID in a nationwide, population cohort study

Hastie, C. E. et al. (2023) Natural history of long-COVID in a nationwide, population cohort study. Nature Communications, 14, 3504. (doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-39193-y) (PMID:37311808) (PMCID:PMC10263377)

Abstract

Previous studies on the natural history of long-COVID have been few and selective. Without comparison groups, disease progression cannot be differentiated from symptoms originating from other causes. The Long-COVID in Scotland Study (Long-CISS) is a Scotland-wide, general population cohort of adults who had laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection matched to PCR-negative adults. Serial, self-completed, online questionnaires collected information on pre-existing health conditions and current health six, 12 and 18 months after index test. Of those with previous symptomatic infection, 35% reported persistent incomplete/no recovery, 12% improvement and 12% deterioration. At six and 12 months, one or more symptom was reported by 71.5% and 70.7% respectively of those previously infected, compared with 53.5% and 56.5% of those never infected. Altered taste, smell and confusion improved over time compared to the never infected group and adjusted for confounders. Conversely, late onset dry and productive cough, and hearing problems were more likely following SARS-CoV-2 infection.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The study was funded by the Chief Scientist Office (ref COV/LTE/20/06) and Public Health Scotland. This research used data assets made available by National Safe Haven as part of the Data and Connectivity National Core Study, led by Health Data Research UK in partnership with the Office for National Statistics and funded by UK Research and Innovation (grant ref MC_PC_20029).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Blane, Dr David and Hastie, Dr Claire and Browne, Dr Susan and Ibbotson, Dr Tracy and Winter, Dr Andrew and Scott, Dr Janet and Pell, Professor Jill and Lowe, Dr David and O'Donnell, Professor Kate
• Authors: Hastie, C. E., Lowe, D. J., McAuley, A., Mills, N. L., Winter, A. J., Black, C., Scott, J. T., O'Donnell, C. A., Blane, D. N., Browne, S., Ibbotson, T. R., and Pell, J. P.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > General Practice and Primary Care; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Virus Research; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: Nature Communications
• Publisher: Nature Research
• ISSN: 2041-1723
• ISSN (Online): 2041-1723
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Nature Communications 14:3504
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
313130		Defining and understanding the longer-term effects of COVID-19: A mixed methods study exploring the frequency, nature, and impact of 'long COVID' in the Scottish population.	Jill Pell	Office of the Chief Scientific Adviser (CSO)	COV/LTE/20/06	Institute of Health & Wellbeing