Natural History of Self-reported Symptoms Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Target Trial Emulation in a Prospective Community-Based Cohort.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The natural history of symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection remains uncertain because many studies are non-representative, ignore background symptom prevalence, lack longitudinal tracking, and omit appropriate controls. Using a prospective, community-based cohort with repeated symptom measures, we estimated post-infection risks of long COVID symptoms versus contemporaneous uninfected controls.

Methods

We analyzed the CHASING COVID Cohort, a U.S. longitudinal study with surveys and serology (March 2020-December 2023). Infection status (January 2021-December 2022) was determined from self-reported PCR/antigen results, serology, or CSTE probable criteria. We emulated 24 monthly target trials comparing individuals newly infected at time zero with those remaining uninfe

SUBMITTER: Shen Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12637801 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature