Data from University of Gothenburg Provide New Insights into COVID-19 (Long-term self-reported health and disability after COVID-19 in public employees): Coronavirus – COVID-19

2023 JAN 09 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at NewsRx COVID-19 Daily -- Researchers detail new data in COVID-19. According to news reporting from the University of Gothenburg by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “Although the symptomatology has been assessed in multiple studies among persons recovering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), less is known regarding long-term general health and disability. We aimed to assess long-term self-reported disability in public employees after predominantly mild COVID-19 in comparison with individuals who had negative COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results.”

Funders for this research include The Afa Insurance; Swedish State Under An Agreement Between The Swedish Government And The County Councils; University of Gothenburg.

Our news reporters obtained a quote from the research from University of Gothenburg: “Public employees within Region Vastra Gotaland were offered tests to identify SARS-CoV-2 infection (n = 56,221) and were invited to complete an online survey that included the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule. Questionnaires were sent out between January 26 and March 5, 2021. A total of 14,222 (25.3%) employees responded, of which 10,194 (18%) were included (women n = 8749, 85.8%). Of these, 7185 (70.5%) participants had a negative PCR test result (controls). A total of 1425 (14%) had a positive PCR result and were categorized in the sub-acute phase (4-12 weeks post COVID-19), and 1584 (15.5%) had a positive PCR test and were categorized in the post COVID-19 phase (> 12 weeks). Fifty-two percent of controls rated disability of varying degrees, versus 73% and 64% of participants in the sub-acute and post COVID-19 phase, respectively. Being ‘emotionally affected’ was the most frequently reported disability in the sub-acute phase, the post COVID-19 phase, as well as in controls. The proportion of participants reporting difficulties for 20-30 days was higher in the sub-acute phase than in the post COVID-19 phase (27.9% vs. 21.8%, p < 0.001) as well as in a comparison between participants in the post COVID-19 phase and controls (21.8% vs 14.2%, p < 0.001). Compared with controls, severe disability was more common in the post COVID-19 phase among both women (15.8% vs. 10.7%,), and men (9.8% vs. 6.8%).”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Disability was present in all groups; however, reported disability was greater in the sub-acute phase than in the post COVID-19 phase. The higher levels of disability reported in the COVID-19 patient population may indicate a persisting need for rehabilitation and recovery. In general, women reported a greater degree of disability than men in the sub-acute and post COVID-19 phases.”

For more information on this research see: Long-term self-reported health and disability after COVID-19 in public employees. BMC Public Health, 2022,22(1):1-11. (BMC Public Health - http://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com). The publisher for BMC Public Health is BMC.

A free version of this journal article is available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14820-3.

Our news journalists report that more information may be obtained by contacting Linda Ashman Kroonstrom, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg. Additional authors for this research include Johanna Krause, Simon B. Larsson, Robert Sigstrom, Katharina Stibrant Sunnerhagen.

(Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world.)