Prevalence and trends in persistent symptoms following COVID-19 in Japan: A nationwide cross-sectional survey

Even during the endemic phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of persistent symptoms on patients and healthcare systems remains significant. Thus, a more comprehensive understanding of these symptoms is essential. Using data from the Japan Society and New Tobacco Internet Survey conducted in Fe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of infection and chemotherapy : official journal of the Japan Society of Chemotherapy 2024-08, Vol.30 (8), p.725-733
Main Authors: Takamatsu, Akane, Honda, Hitoshi, Miwa, Toshiki, Tabuchi, Takahiro, Taniguchi, Kiyosu, Shibuya, Kenji, Tokuda, Yasuharu
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Back Pain - epidemiology
COVID-19
COVID-19 - epidemiology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Japan - epidemiology
Long COVID
Male
Middle Aged
National survey
Persistent symptoms
Post COVID-19 condition
Prevalence
SARS-CoV-2
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult
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Summary:Even during the endemic phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of persistent symptoms on patients and healthcare systems remains significant. Thus, a more comprehensive understanding of these symptoms is essential. Using data from the Japan Society and New Tobacco Internet Survey conducted in February 2023, this cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of, and changes in, persistent COVID-19 symptoms. In total, 21,108 individuals responded to the survey. Of these, 29.1 % (6143) had a history of COVID-19. Our analysis found that arm/leg/joint pain (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.17; 95 % confidence interval [95 % CI]: 1.03–1.33), back pain (aOR: 1.13; 95 % CI: 1.01–1.27), chest pain (aOR: 1.53; 95 % CI: 1.20–1.96), malaise (aOR: 1.14; 95 % CI: 1.02–1.28), loss of taste (aOR: 2.55; 95 % CI: 1.75–3.72), loss of smell (aOR: 2.33; 95 % CI: 1.67–3.26), memory impairment (aOR: 1.27; 95 % CI: 1.04–1.56), and cough (aOR: 1.72; 95 % CI: 1.38–2.13) were independently associated with a history of COVID-19 contracted more than two months but less than six months previously. Further, back pain (aOR: 1.24; 95 % CI: 1.04–1.47) and loss of taste (aOR: 2.28; 95 % CI: 1.24–4.21) showed independent association with COVID-19 contracted more than 12 months previously. Various symptoms were independently associated with a history of COVID-19. While most patients tend to recover within a year after contracting COVID-19, certain symptoms, such as back pain and loss of taste, persist longer than a year, underscoring public health concerns and emphasizing the need for health care services to support patients suffering from persistent symptoms.
ISSN:1341-321X
1437-7780
DOI:10.1016/j.jiac.2024.02.008