Strahm, CarolCarolStrahmSeneghini, MarcoMarcoSeneghiniGüsewell, SabineSabineGüsewellEgger, ThomasThomasEggerLeal-Neto, OnicioOnicioLeal-NetoBrucher, AngelaAngelaBrucherLemmenmeier, EvaEvaLemmenmeierMeier Kleeb, DoretteDoretteMeier KleebMöller, J CarstenJ CarstenMöllerRieder, PhilipPhilipRiederRuetti, MarkusMarkusRuettiRutz, RemusRemusRutzSchmid, Hans RuediHans RuediSchmidStocker, RetoRetoStockerVuichard-Gysin, DanielleDanielleVuichard-GysinWiggli, BenediktBenediktWiggliBesold, UlrikeUlrikeBesoldKuster, Stefan PStefan PKusterMcGeer, AllisonAllisonMcGeerRisch, LorenzLorenzRisch0000-0003-2692-6699Friedl, AndréeAndréeFriedlSchlegel, MatthiasMatthiasSchlegelSchmid, DagmarDagmarSchmidVernazza, PietroPietroVernazzaKahlert, Christian RChristian RKahlertKohler, PhilippPhilippKohler2024-10-142024-10-142022-08-24https://boris-portal.unibe.ch/handle/20.500.12422/115488BACKGROUND The burden of long-term symptoms (ie, long COVID) in patients after mild COVID-19 is debated. Within a cohort of healthcare workers (HCWs), frequency and risk factors for symptoms compatible with long COVID are assessed. METHODS Participants answered baseline (August/September 2020) and weekly questionnaires on SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) results and acute disease symptoms. In January 2021, SARS-CoV-2 serology was performed; in March, symptoms compatible with long COVID (including psychometric scores) were asked and compared between HCWs with positive NPS, seropositive HCWs without positive NPS (presumable asymptomatic/pauci-symptomatic infections), and negative controls. The effect of time since diagnosis and quantitative anti-spike protein antibodies (anti-S) was evaluated. Poisson regression was used to identify risk factors for symptom occurrence. RESULTS Of 3334 HCWs (median, 41 years; 80% female), 556 (17%) had a positive NPS and 228 (7%) were only seropositive. HCWs with positive NPS more frequently reported ≥1 symptom compared with controls (73% vs 52%, P < .001); seropositive HCWs without positive NPS did not score higher than controls (58% vs 52%, P = .13), although impaired taste/olfaction (16% vs 6%, P < .001) and hair loss (17% vs 10%, P = .004) were more common. Exhaustion/burnout was reported by 24% of negative controls. Many symptoms remained elevated in those diagnosed >6 months ago; anti-S titers correlated with high symptom scores. Acute viral symptoms in weekly questionnaires best predicted long-COVID symptoms. Physical activity at baseline was negatively associated with neurocognitive impairment and fatigue scores. CONCLUSIONS Seropositive HCWs without positive NPS are only mildly affected by long COVID. Exhaustion/burnout is common, even in noninfected HCWs. Physical activity might be protective against neurocognitive impairment/fatigue symptoms after COVID-19.enasymptomatic healthcare workers long COVID risk factors serology600 - Technology::610 - Medicine & healtharticle10.48350/1750263509001510.1093/cid/ciac054