Cohort profile: EFTER-COVID – a Danish nationwide cohort for assessing the long-term health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic

PurposeTo follow SARS-CoV-2-infected persons up to 18 months after a positive test in order to assess the burden and nature of post acute symptoms and health problems.ParticipantsPersons in Denmark above 15 years of age, who were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during 1 September 2020 to 21 February...

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Published inBMJ open Vol. 14; no. 5; p. e087799
Main Authors Sørensen, Anna Irene Vedel, Bager, Peter, Nielsen, Nete Munk, Koch, Anders, Spiliopoulos, Lampros, Hviid, Anders, Ethelberg, Steen
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England British Medical Journal Publishing Group 06.05.2024
BMJ Publishing Group LTD
BMJ Publishing Group
Subjects
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Anxiety
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic illnesses
Cohort analysis
Cohort Studies
COVID-19
COVID-19 - epidemiology
COVID-19 - prevention & control
COVID-19 Vaccines - administration & dosage
Data collection
Denmark - epidemiology
Disease
Epidemiology
Female
Health surveillance
Humans
Infections
Male
Mental depression
Middle Aged
Pain
Pandemics
Post traumatic stress disorder
Questionnaires
SARS-CoV-2
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult
Denmark
COVID-19
EPIDEMIOLOGY
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Summary:PurposeTo follow SARS-CoV-2-infected persons up to 18 months after a positive test in order to assess the burden and nature of post acute symptoms and health problems.ParticipantsPersons in Denmark above 15 years of age, who were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during 1 September 2020 to 21 February 2023 using a RT-PCR test. As a reference group, three test-negative individuals were selected for every two test-positive individuals by matching on test date.Findings to dateIn total, 2 427 913 invitations to baseline questionnaires have been sent out and 839 528 baseline questionnaires (34.5%) have been completed. Females, the age group 50–69 years, Danish-born and persons, who had received at least one SARS-CoV-2 vaccination booster dose were more likely to participate. Follow-up questionnaires were sent at 2, 4, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months after the test, with response rates at 42%–54%.Future plansNew participants have been recruited on a daily basis from 1 August 2021 to 23 March 2023. Data collection will continue until the last follow-up questionnaires (at 18 months after test) have been distributed in August 2024.
Bibliography:Cohort profile
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ISSN:2044-6055
2044-6055
DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2024-087799