Characterising patterns of COVID-19 and long COVID symptoms: evidence from nine UK longitudinal studies

• DOI: 10.1007/s10654-022-00962-6
• Publication Date: 2023-01-21T07:02:40Z
• Authors: Ruth C. E. Bowyer; Charlotte Huggins; Renin Toms; Richard J. Shaw; Bo Hou; Ellen J. Thompson; Alex S. F. Kwong; Dylan M. Williams; Milla Kibble; George B. Ploubidis; Nicholas J. Timpson; Jonathan A. C. St...; Nishi Chaturvedi; Claire J. Steves; Kate Tilling; Richard J. Silver...
• Keywords: 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak; Betacoronavirus; Coronavirus Infections; Pandemic

Multiple studies across global populations have established the primary symptoms characterising Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and long COVID. However, as may also occur in absence of COVID-19, a lack appropriate controls has often meant that specificity to acute COVID-19 or COVID, extent length time for which they are elevated after could not be examined. We analysed individual symptom prevalences characterised patterns COVID nine UK longitudinal studies, totalling over 42,000 participants. Conducting latent class analyses separately three groups ('no COVID-19', 'COVID-19 last 12 weeks', > weeks ago'), data did support presence more than two distinct patterns, representing high low burden, each group. Comparing burden classes between weeks' 'no COVID-19' we identified characteristic including loss taste smell, fatigue, cough, shortness breath muscle pains aches. ago' breath, pain aches, difficulty concentrating chest tightness. The among individuals with ago were strongly associated self-reported unable function normal due symptoms, suggesting pattern corresponds Building evidence base regarding typical will improve diagnosis this condition ability elicit underlying biological mechanisms, leading better patient access treatment services.