Long-term sequele after mild SARS-CoV-2 infection

Background: Increasing light is being shed on the long-term effects of COVID-19, commonly referred to as “long COVID”, but little is known about the outcomes after asymptomatic to mild COVID-19.

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence, duration, pre-disposing factors and pathogenesis of virus- and immune-mediated long-COVID after asymptomatic to mild SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Study design: The COMMUNITY study was initiated early during the COVID-19 pandemic and 2149 healthcare workers and 118 hospitalized COVID-19 patients were recruited in April 2020. The systematic and prospective follow-up, including periodic longitudinal questionnaires to collect self-reported symptoms and health-related quality of life every four months, will determine the prevalence, duration and sequele of long-COVID in low-risk health care workers with mild initial symptoms of COVID-19.

Blood sampling every four months will furthermore allow for investigations of contributing factors such as persistent immune/autoimmune activation.

Significance: The COMMUNITY study generates a strong world-leading longitudinal and integrated dataset to better understand SARS-CoV-2 immunity and aftermath. Determination of the frequency, duration, and other properties of long-COVID following mild infection is crucial in health care planning and in improving the care of our patients with long-term consequences after COVID-19.