Dataset Information

Physical and cognitive impact following SARS-CoV-2 infection in a large population-based case-control study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Persistent symptoms are common after SARS-CoV-2 infection but correlation with objective measures is unclear.

Methods

We invited all 3098 adults who tested SARS-CoV-2 positive in Iceland before October 2020 to the deCODE Health Study. We compared multiple symptoms and physical measures between 1706 Icelanders with confirmed prior infection (cases) who participated, and 619 contemporary and 13,779 historical controls. Cases participated in the study 5-18 months after infection.

Results

Here we report that 41 of 88 symptoms are associated with prior infection, most significantly disturbed smell and taste, memory disturbance, and dyspnea. Measured objectively, cases had poorer smell and taste results, less grip strength, and poorer memory recall. Differences in grip strength and memory recall were small. No other objective measure associated with prior infection including heart rate, blood pressure, postural orthostatic tachycardia, oxygen saturation, exercise tolerance, hearing, and traditional inflammatory, cardiac, liver, and kidney blood biomarkers. There was no evidence of more anxiety or depression among cases. We estimate the prevalence of long Covid to be 7% at a median of 8 months after infection.

Conclusions

We confirm that diverse symptoms are common months after SARS-CoV-2 infection but find few differences between cases and controls in objective parameters measured. These discrepancies between symptoms and physical measures suggest a more complicated contribution to symptoms related to prior infection than is captured with conventional tests. Traditional clinical assessment is not expected to be particularly informative in relating symptoms to a past SARS-CoV-2 infection.

SUBMITTER: Holm H

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10325957 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Physical and cognitive impact following SARS-CoV-2 infection in a large population-based case-control study.

Holm Hilma H Ivarsdottir Erna V EV Olafsdottir Thorhildur T Thorolfsdottir Rosa R Eythorsson Elias E Norland Kristjan K Gisladottir Rosa R Jonsdottir Gudrun G Unnsteinsdottir Unnur U Sveinsdottir Kristin E KE Jonsson Benedikt A BA Andresdottir Margret M Arnar David O DO Arnthorsson Asgeir O AO Birgisdottir Kolbrún K Bjarnadottir Kristbjorg K Bjarnadottir Solveig S Bjornsdottir Gyda G Einarsson Gudmundur G Eiriksdottir Berglind B Gardarsdottir Elisabet Eir EE Gislason Thorarinn T Gottfredsson Magnus M Gudmundsdottir Steinunn S Gudmundsson Julius J Gunnarsdottir Kristbjorg K Helgadottir Anna A Helgason Dadi D Hinriksdottir Ingibjorg I Ingvarsson Ragnar F RF Jonasdottir Sigga S SS Jonsdottir Ingileif I Karlsdottir Tekla H TH Kristinsdottir Anna M AM Kristinsson Sigurdur Yngvi SY Kristjansdottir Steinunn S Love Thorvardur J TJ Ludviksdottir Dora D Masson Gisli G Norddahl Gudmundur G Olafsdottir Thorunn T Olafsson Isleifur I Rafnar Thorunn T Runolfsdottir Hrafnhildur L HL Saemundsdottir Jona J Sigurbjornsson Svanur S Sigurdardottir Kristin K Sigurdsson Engilbert E Sigurdsson Martin I MI Sigurdsson Emil L EL Steinthorsdottir Valgerdur V Sveinbjornsson Gardar G Thorarensen Emil A EA Thorbjornsson Bjarni B Thorsteinsdottir Brynja B Tragante Vinicius V Ulfarsson Magnus O MO Stefansson Hreinn H Gislason Thorsteinn T Kristjansson Mar M Palsson Runolfur R Sulem Patrick P Thorsteinsdottir Unnur U Thorgeirsson Gudmundur G Gudbjartsson Daniel F DF Stefansson Kari K

Communications medicine 20230706 1

<h4>Background</h4>Persistent symptoms are common after SARS-CoV-2 infection but correlation with objective measures is unclear.<h4>Methods</h4>We invited all 3098 adults who tested SARS-CoV-2 positive in Iceland before October 2020 to the deCODE Health Study. We compared multiple symptoms and physical measures between 1706 Icelanders with confirmed prior infection (cases) who participated, and 619 contemporary and 13,779 historical controls. Cases participated in the study 5-18 months after inf ...[more]

PMID: 37414856

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Project description:ObjectivesTo determine the association of symptomatic and asymptomatic mild COVID-19 and the SARS-CoV-2 viral load with the physical fitness of army cadets.DesignA retrospective case-control study.SettingOfficers' Training School of the Israel Defense Forces.ParticipantsThe study included all cadets (age, 20.22±1.17 years) in the combatant (n=597; 514 males, 83 females; 33 infected, all males) and non-combatant (n=611; 238 males, 373 females; 91 infected, 57 females, 34 males) training courses between 1 August 2020 and 28 February 2021. COVID-19 outbreaks occurred in September 2020 (non-combatants) and January 2021(combatants).Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe primary outcome measures were the aerobic (3000 m race) and anaerobic (combatant/non-combatant-specific) physical fitness mean score differences (MSDs) between the start and end of the respective training courses in infected and non-infected cadets. Secondary outcome measures included aerobic MSD associations with various COVID-19 symptoms and SARS-CoV-2 viral loads.ResultsSARS-CoV-2 infection led to declined non-combatant and combatant aerobic fitness MSD (14.53±47.80 vs -19.19±60.89 s; p<0.001 and -2.72±21.74 vs -23.63±30.92 s; p<0.001), but not anaerobic. The aerobic physical fitness MSD decreased in symptomatic cadets (14.69±44.87 s) and increased in asymptomatic cadets (-3.79±31.07 s), but the difference was statistically insignificant (p=0.07). Symptomatic cadets with fever (24.70±50.95 vs -0.37±33.87 s; p=0.008) and headache (21.85±43.17 vs 1.69±39.54 s; p=0.043) had more positive aerobic physical fitness MSD than asymptomatic cadets. The aerobic fitness decline was negatively associated with viral load assessed by the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (n=61; r = -0.329; p=0.010), envelope (n=56; r = -0.385; p=0.002) and nucleus (n=65; r = -0.340; p=0.010) genes.ConclusionsSARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a lingering decline in aerobic, but not anaerobic, fitness in symptomatic and asymptomatic young adults, suggesting possible directions for individualised symptom-dependent and severity-dependent rehabilitation plans' optimisation.

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Dataset Information

Physical and cognitive impact following SARS-CoV-2 infection in a large population-based case-control study.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Physical and cognitive impact following SARS-CoV-2 infection in a large population-based case-control study.

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