Day-by-day symptoms following positive and negative PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 in non-hospitalized healthcare workers: a 90-day follow-up study

Kent J Nielsen; Jesper Medom Vestergaard; Vivi Schlünssen; Jens Peter Bonde; Kathrine Agergård Kaspersen; Karin Biering; Ole Carstensen; Thomas Greve; Karoline Kærgaard Hansen; Annett Dalbøge; Esben Meulengracht Flachs; Sanne Jespersen; Mette Lausten Hansen; Susan Mikkelsen; Marianne Kragh Thomsen; Jacob Dvinge Redder; Else Toft Würtz; Lars Østergaard; Christian Erikstrup; Henrik Albert Kolstad

doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2021.05.032

Day-by-day symptoms following positive and negative PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 in non-hospitalized healthcare workers: a 90-day follow-up study

Kent J Nielsen, Jesper Medom Vestergaard, Vivi Schlünssen, Jens Peter Bonde, Kathrine Agergård Kaspersen, Karin Biering, Ole Carstensen, Thomas Greve, Karoline Kærgaard Hansen, Annett Dalbøge, Esben Meulengracht Flachs, Sanne Jespersen, Mette Lausten Hansen, Susan Mikkelsen, Marianne Kragh Thomsen, Jacob Dvinge Redder, Else Toft Würtz, Lars Østergaard, Christian Erikstrup, Henrik Albert Kolstad

Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

24 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to compare symptoms day by day for non-hospitalized individuals testing positive and negative for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

METHODS: In total, 210 positive-test and 630 negative-test healthcare workers in the Central Denmark Region were followed for up to 90 days after testing, between April and June, 2020. Their daily reported COVID-19-related symptoms were compared graphically and by logistic regression.

RESULTS: Thirty per cent of the positive-test and close to 0% of the negative-test participants reported a reduced sense of taste and smell during all 90 days (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 86.07, 95% CI 22.86-323). Dyspnea was reported by an initial 20% of positive-test participants, declining to 5% after 30 days, without ever reaching the level of the negative-test participants (aOR 6.88, 95% CI 2.41-19.63). Cough, headache, sore throat, muscle pain, and fever were temporarily more prevalent among the positive-test participants; after 30 days, no increases were seen. Women and older participants were more susceptible to long-lasting COVID-19 symptoms.

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of long-lasting reduced sense of taste and smell is highly increased in mild COVID-19 patients. This pattern is also seen for dyspnea at a low level, but not for cough, sore throat, headache, muscle pain, or fever.

Original language	English
Journal	International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases
Volume	108
Pages (from-to)	382-390
Number of pages	9
ISSN	1201-9712
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2021.05.032
Publication status	Published - Jul 2021

Keywords

Ageusia
Anosmia
Dyspnea
Long-haul COVID-19
Post COVID-19
Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome

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Nielsen, K. J., Vestergaard, J. M., Schlünssen, V., Bonde, J. P., Kaspersen, K. A., Biering, K., Carstensen, O., Greve, T., Hansen, K. K., Dalbøge, A., Flachs, E. M., Jespersen, S., Hansen, M. L., Mikkelsen, S., Thomsen, M. K., Redder, J. D., Würtz, E. T., Østergaard, L., Erikstrup, C., & Kolstad, H. A. (2021). Day-by-day symptoms following positive and negative PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 in non-hospitalized healthcare workers: a 90-day follow-up study. International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases, 108, 382-390. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2021.05.032

Day-by-day symptoms following positive and negative PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 in non-hospitalized healthcare workers: a 90-day follow-up study. / Nielsen, Kent J; Vestergaard, Jesper Medom; Schlünssen, Vivi et al.
In: International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases, Vol. 108, 07.2021, p. 382-390.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Nielsen, KJ, Vestergaard, JM, Schlünssen, V, Bonde, JP, Kaspersen, KA, Biering, K, Carstensen, O, Greve, T, Hansen, KK, Dalbøge, A, Flachs, EM, Jespersen, S, Hansen, ML, Mikkelsen, S, Thomsen, MK, Redder, JD, Würtz, ET, Østergaard, L, Erikstrup, C & Kolstad, HA 2021, 'Day-by-day symptoms following positive and negative PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 in non-hospitalized healthcare workers: a 90-day follow-up study', International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases, vol. 108, pp. 382-390. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2021.05.032

Nielsen KJ, Vestergaard JM, Schlünssen V, Bonde JP, Kaspersen KA, Biering K et al. Day-by-day symptoms following positive and negative PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 in non-hospitalized healthcare workers: a 90-day follow-up study. International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases. 2021 Jul;108:382-390. Epub 2021 May 19. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.05.032

Nielsen, Kent J ; Vestergaard, Jesper Medom ; Schlünssen, Vivi et al. / Day-by-day symptoms following positive and negative PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 in non-hospitalized healthcare workers : a 90-day follow-up study. In: International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases. 2021 ; Vol. 108. pp. 382-390.

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title = "Day-by-day symptoms following positive and negative PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 in non-hospitalized healthcare workers: a 90-day follow-up study",

abstract = "OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to compare symptoms day by day for non-hospitalized individuals testing positive and negative for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).METHODS: In total, 210 positive-test and 630 negative-test healthcare workers in the Central Denmark Region were followed for up to 90 days after testing, between April and June, 2020. Their daily reported COVID-19-related symptoms were compared graphically and by logistic regression.RESULTS: Thirty per cent of the positive-test and close to 0\% of the negative-test participants reported a reduced sense of taste and smell during all 90 days (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 86.07, 95\% CI 22.86-323). Dyspnea was reported by an initial 20\% of positive-test participants, declining to 5\% after 30 days, without ever reaching the level of the negative-test participants (aOR 6.88, 95\% CI 2.41-19.63). Cough, headache, sore throat, muscle pain, and fever were temporarily more prevalent among the positive-test participants; after 30 days, no increases were seen. Women and older participants were more susceptible to long-lasting COVID-19 symptoms.CONCLUSION: The prevalence of long-lasting reduced sense of taste and smell is highly increased in mild COVID-19 patients. This pattern is also seen for dyspnea at a low level, but not for cough, sore throat, headache, muscle pain, or fever.",

keywords = "Ageusia, Anosmia, Dyspnea, Long-haul COVID-19, Post COVID-19, Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome",

author = "Nielsen, \{Kent J\} and Vestergaard, \{Jesper Medom\} and Vivi Schl{\"u}nssen and Bonde, \{Jens Peter\} and Kaspersen, \{Kathrine Agerg{\aa}rd\} and Karin Biering and Ole Carstensen and Thomas Greve and Hansen, \{Karoline K{\ae}rgaard\} and Annett Dalb{\o}ge and Flachs, \{Esben Meulengracht\} and Sanne Jespersen and Hansen, \{Mette Lausten\} and Susan Mikkelsen and Thomsen, \{Marianne Kragh\} and Redder, \{Jacob Dvinge\} and W{\"u}rtz, \{Else Toft\} and Lars {\O}stergaard and Christian Erikstrup and Kolstad, \{Henrik Albert\}",

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year = "2021",

month = jul,

doi = "10.1016/j.ijid.2021.05.032",

language = "English",

volume = "108",

pages = "382--390",

journal = "International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases",

issn = "1201-9712",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Day-by-day symptoms following positive and negative PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 in non-hospitalized healthcare workers

T2 - a 90-day follow-up study

AU - Nielsen, Kent J

AU - Vestergaard, Jesper Medom

AU - Schlünssen, Vivi

AU - Bonde, Jens Peter

AU - Kaspersen, Kathrine Agergård

AU - Biering, Karin

AU - Carstensen, Ole

AU - Greve, Thomas

AU - Hansen, Karoline Kærgaard

AU - Dalbøge, Annett

AU - Flachs, Esben Meulengracht

AU - Jespersen, Sanne

AU - Hansen, Mette Lausten

AU - Mikkelsen, Susan

AU - Thomsen, Marianne Kragh

AU - Redder, Jacob Dvinge

AU - Würtz, Else Toft

AU - Østergaard, Lars

AU - Erikstrup, Christian

AU - Kolstad, Henrik Albert

PY - 2021/7

Y1 - 2021/7

N2 - OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to compare symptoms day by day for non-hospitalized individuals testing positive and negative for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).METHODS: In total, 210 positive-test and 630 negative-test healthcare workers in the Central Denmark Region were followed for up to 90 days after testing, between April and June, 2020. Their daily reported COVID-19-related symptoms were compared graphically and by logistic regression.RESULTS: Thirty per cent of the positive-test and close to 0% of the negative-test participants reported a reduced sense of taste and smell during all 90 days (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 86.07, 95% CI 22.86-323). Dyspnea was reported by an initial 20% of positive-test participants, declining to 5% after 30 days, without ever reaching the level of the negative-test participants (aOR 6.88, 95% CI 2.41-19.63). Cough, headache, sore throat, muscle pain, and fever were temporarily more prevalent among the positive-test participants; after 30 days, no increases were seen. Women and older participants were more susceptible to long-lasting COVID-19 symptoms.CONCLUSION: The prevalence of long-lasting reduced sense of taste and smell is highly increased in mild COVID-19 patients. This pattern is also seen for dyspnea at a low level, but not for cough, sore throat, headache, muscle pain, or fever.

AB - OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to compare symptoms day by day for non-hospitalized individuals testing positive and negative for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).METHODS: In total, 210 positive-test and 630 negative-test healthcare workers in the Central Denmark Region were followed for up to 90 days after testing, between April and June, 2020. Their daily reported COVID-19-related symptoms were compared graphically and by logistic regression.RESULTS: Thirty per cent of the positive-test and close to 0% of the negative-test participants reported a reduced sense of taste and smell during all 90 days (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 86.07, 95% CI 22.86-323). Dyspnea was reported by an initial 20% of positive-test participants, declining to 5% after 30 days, without ever reaching the level of the negative-test participants (aOR 6.88, 95% CI 2.41-19.63). Cough, headache, sore throat, muscle pain, and fever were temporarily more prevalent among the positive-test participants; after 30 days, no increases were seen. Women and older participants were more susceptible to long-lasting COVID-19 symptoms.CONCLUSION: The prevalence of long-lasting reduced sense of taste and smell is highly increased in mild COVID-19 patients. This pattern is also seen for dyspnea at a low level, but not for cough, sore throat, headache, muscle pain, or fever.

KW - Ageusia

KW - Anosmia

KW - Dyspnea

KW - Long-haul COVID-19

KW - Post COVID-19

KW - Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome

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U2 - 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.05.032

DO - 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.05.032

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 34022336

SN - 1201-9712

VL - 108

SP - 382

EP - 390

JO - International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases

JF - International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases

ER -

Day-by-day symptoms following positive and negative PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 in non-hospitalized healthcare workers: a 90-day follow-up study

Abstract

Keywords

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