Persistent complaints after COVID-19 infection: epidemiology, pathophysiology, prediction, and communication, the CORona Follow Up (CORFU) study

Project CORona Follow Up (CORFU) investigated persistent complaints after COVID-19 infection. CORFU bundles 6 national COVID-19 cohorts and 1 survey. The goals were to map post-COVID symptoms and their relationship with quality of life (QoL), develop a prediction model and investigate pathogenesis. At 24 months, 43% of participants with an infection at home, 65% of ward patients and 63% of intensive care patients, had post-COVID symptoms. Fatigue was most common. QoL did not differ between the Covid-19 patients, but it is lower than in people without previous COVID-19. Having at least one post-COVID symptom two years after infection can be predicted by gender, severity of initial infection, and other health conditions that existed before getting COVID-19. The results highlight the need for research into the underlying mechanisms and treatment options for patients with post-COVID symptoms.