Persistent symptoms and sequelae after SARS-CoV-2 infection not requiring hospitalization: Results from Testing Denmark, a Danish cross-sectional survey


 
 
 SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with persistent symptoms (long-COVID). We assessed the burden of long-COVID among non-hospitalized PCR-confirmed adults.
 
 
 
 In the fall of 2020, a cross-sectional survey was performed in the adult Danish general population. This included a self-administered point-of-care test for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), and COVID-19 associated symptom questions. Non-hospitalized respondents with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR-test 12 or more weeks before the survey (cases) were matched (1:10) to seronegative controls on age, sex, and BMI. Propensity score weighted odds ratios (OR) and ORs for risk factors were estimated for each health outcome.
 
 
 
 In total, 742 cases and 7420 controls were included. The attributable risk of at least one long-COVID symptom was 25·0 per 100 cases (95% confidence interval (CI): 22·2, 27·4). Compared to controls, cases reported worse general health (OR: 5·9, CI: 5·0, 7·0) and had higher odds for a broad range of symptoms, particularly loss of taste (OR: 11·8, CI: 9·5, 14·6) and smell (OR: 11·2, CI: 9·1, 13·9). Physical and Mental Component Summary scores were also significantly reduced with differences of -2·5 (CI: -3·1, -1·8) and -2·0 (CI: -2·7, -1·2) respectively. Female sex and severity of initial infection were major risk factors for long-COVID.
 
 
 
 Non-hospitalized SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive individuals had significantly reduced physical and mental health, and one in four reported persistence of at least one long-COVID symptom.
