The Impact of Symptoms Remaining 12 Months After Non-Hospitalised COVID-19 on Work Ability and Independent Predictors of Post COVID

Background: Better knowledge on the long-term symptoms following Covid-19, so called post Covid, in non-hospitalised patients is needed.Aim: The aim of this study was to study symptoms remining up to 12 months after Covid-19 and their impact on work ability in non-hospitalised patients. We also investigate predictors of these persisting symptoms.Materials and Methods: This study included non-hospitalised adult subjects with confirmed Covid-19 via positive nasopharyngeal swab polymerase chain reaction test for SARS-CoV-2 during the first wave of the pandemic in Uppsala, Sweden. 566 subjects were sent a survey via e-mail or regular mail to their home addresses with the request to participate in the survey over 12 months post-diagnosis. The majority of subjects were healthcare workers as this occupational group was prioritized for testing.Results: A total of 366 respondents with 48% reporting remaining symptoms 12 months after Covid-19 diagnosis. The most common reported symptoms at this time point were impaired smell and taste and fatigue. Among the predictors of persisting symptoms were being born abroad, lower physical fitness compared with peers before covid-19, BMI>25, coexistence of hypertension and chronic pain and more than seven of the general Covid-19 symptoms at the onset. Respondents with symptoms after 12 months self-reported negatively about their general health and work ability.Conclusions: This study indicated that a high incidence of people who had mild Covid-19 might live with a variety of long-term symptoms. It highlighted the importance of also considering work ability after mild Covid-19 disease.Funding Information: Open Medicine Foundation (JB) is acknowledged for support. Also, the Åke Wiberg stiftelse (MK) is acknowledged for support.Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest. Ethics Approval Statement: All respondents gave digital or written informed consent at the start of the questionnaire. The study was approved by the institutional ethics committee of the University Hospital in Uppsala (EPN number 2020-05707) and conducted in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration.