Table 2.
Prevalence (%) of persistent symptoms in patients with COVID-19 and other non-SARS-CoV-2 infections and age-adjusted associations between COVID-19 status and persistent symptoms.
| Symptoms of long COVID 1–6 month after acute illness |
COVID-19
N = 236 |
Non-SARS-CoV-2 infections N = 142 |
p-values* | ORa** | 95% CI*** | p-values | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N | % | N | % | |||||
| General sequelae | ||||||||
| Fever | 31 | 13.1 | 5 | 3.5 | 0.002 | 4.0 | 1.4–11.6 | 0.01 |
| 37.5–38°C | 4 | 1.7 | 1 | 0.7 | 0.84 | 1.7 | 0.2–17.2 | 0.64 |
| 38.1–39.0°C | 1 | 0.4 | 1 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.1–24.0 | 0.86 | |
| Fatigue | 59 | 25.2 | 3 | 2.1 | <0.001 | 8.7 | 2.5–29.9 | 0.001 |
| Respiratory sequelae | ||||||||
| Cough | 34 | 14.4 | 18 | 12.7 | 0.64 | 1.9 | 0.9–3.9 | 0.07 |
| Sore throat | 12 | 5.1 | 2 | 1.4 | 0.07 | 3.5 | 0.7–17.7 | 0.13 |
| Wheezing | 4 | 1.7 | 0 | 0 | 0.30 | – | – | – |
| Rhinorrhea | 38 | 16.1 | 16 | 11.3 | 0.19 | 2.6 | 1.3–5.4 | 0.008 |
| Shortness of breath (at rest) | 11 | 4.7 | 1 | 0.7 | 0.04 | 2.1 | 0.2–18.4 | 0.49 |
| Shortness of breath (with physical activities) | 17 | 7.2 | 0 | 0 | 0.001 | – | – | – |
| Otorhinolaryngological sequelae | ||||||||
| Difficulty swallowing | 2 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 | 0.53 | – | – | – |
| Voice changes | 6 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 | 0.09 | – | – | – |
| Speech disturbances | 3 | 1.3 | 0 | 0 | 0.30 | – | – | – |
| Tinnitus | 9 | 3.8 | 0 | 0 | 0.02 | – | – | – |
| Cardiovascular sequelae | ||||||||
| Heart rhythm disturbances | 12 | 5.1 | 0 | 0 | 0.005 | – | – | – |
| Orthostatic intolerance | 20 | 8.5 | 0 | 0 | <0.001 | – | – | – |
| Tachypnoea | 6 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 | 0.09 | – | – | – |
| Gastrointestinal sequelae | ||||||||
| Diarrhea | 10 | 4.2 | 2 | 1.4 | 0.22 | 4.1 | 0.8–21.2 | 0.09 |
| Vomiting/nausea | 7 | 3.0 | 1 | 0.7 | 0.27 | 6.2 | 0.6–60.9 | 0.12 |
| Loss of appetite | 20 | 8.5 | 7 | 4.9 | 0.20 | 2.5 | 0.9–6.7 | 0.07 |
| Body weight changes | 20 | 8.5 | 3 | 2.1 | 0.01 | 2.3 | 0.6–8.7 | 0.22 |
| Musculoskeletal sequelae | ||||||||
| Muscle pain | 16 | 6.8 | 0 | 0 | 0.002 | – | – | – |
| Muscle spasms | 8 | 3.4 | 0 | 0 | 0.03 | – | – | – |
| Joint pain | 19 | 8.1 | 0 | 0 | 0.001 | – | – | – |
| Stiffness | 5 | 2.1 | 0 | 0 | 0.16 | – | – | – |
| Neurological sequelae | ||||||||
| Loss of taste and/or smell | 29 | 12.3 | 1 | 0.7 | <0.001 | 11.2 | 1.4–89.1 | 0.02 |
| Dizziness | 21 | 8.9 | 0 | 0 | <0.001 | – | – | – |
| Headache | 40 | 16.9 | 1 | 0.7 | <0.001 | 12.9 | 1.7–99.6 | 0.01 |
| Photophobia | 12 | 5.1 | 0 | 0 | 0.005 | – | – | – |
| Cognitive sequelae | ||||||||
| Difficulties to concentrate | 40 | 16.9 | 1 | 0.7 | <0.001 | 13.6 | 1.7–105.3 | 0.01 |
| Impaired memory | 24 | 10.2 | 1 | 0.7 | <0.001 | 7.3 | 0.9–58.9 | 0.06 |
| Impaired attention | 40 | 16.9 | 1 | 0.7 | <0.001 | 19.0 | 2.4–147.5 | 0.005 |
| Mood changes | 55 | 23.3 | 3 | 2.1 | <0.001 | 16.0 | 4.6–55.2 | <0.001 |
| Irritability | 57 | 24.3 | 3 | 2.1 | <0.001 | 16.0 | 4.7–55.9 | <0.001 |
| Anxiety/depression | 31 | 13.1 | 0 | 0 | <0.001 | – | – | – |
| Dermatologic sequelae | ||||||||
| Hair loss | 6 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 | 0.09 | – | – | – |
| Other symptoms | ||||||||
| Enlarged lymph nodes | 6 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 | 0.08 | – | – | – |
| Nocturnal sweating | 23 | 9.7 | 1 | 0.7 | <0.001 | 16.7 | 2.1–130.4 | 0.007 |
| Menstrual disturbances | 5 | 7.8 | 0 | 0 | 0.33 | – | – | – |
*
p-values for univariate analysis (Chi square or Fisher's exact test).
**
aOR, adjusted odds ratio, adjusted for age.
***
95% CI, 95% confidence interval.