• Stuart Tan, Anna J G Pryor, Geoffrey W Melville, Olivia Fischer, Lyndel Hewitt, and Kimberley J Davis.
• Physician in Trauma and Rehabilitation Medicine, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, New South Wales, Australia.
• Intern Med J. 2024 Feb 1; 54 (2): 224233224-233.

BackgroundLonger-term symptoms (long COVID) may be present in seemingly recovered patients for several months and can be debilitating.AimTo investigate the prevalence and type of symptoms in those with a prior COVID-19 diagnosis.MethodsThis prospective, longitudinal observational study commenced in July 2020 investigating the longer-term health impacts of COVID-19. Participants were recruited via public health units and media publicity. Surveys were completed upon enrolment, and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Outcome measures included incidence of activity limitations and symptoms against health and vaccination status, age and gender.ResultsOverall, 339 participants were recruited. At 3 months after COVID-19, 66.8% reported symptoms, and 44.8% were still experiencing symptoms at 12 months. Fatigue was most common at every point (between 53.1% and 33.1%). Pain symptoms increased in relative prevalence over time, whereas respiratory/pulmonary-type symptoms decreased substantially after 3 months. Females and younger people were more likely to experience symptoms in the early stages of long COVID (P < 0.01) and those with more comorbidities in the latter stages (P < 0.001). Vaccination showed a statistically significant protective effect against symptoms (P < 0.01-0.001).ConclusionLong-term COVID-19 symptoms exist among recovered patients up to 12 months after contracting the virus. Fatigue is a primary contributor, while chronic pain became more problematic after 6 months. Vaccination was a factor in preventing long-term symptoms and aiding faster recovery from symptoms. Further work exploring additional contributors to symptom prevalence would assist in developing appropriate follow-up care.© 2023 The Authors. Internal Medicine Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

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