The role of multimorbidity and socio-economic characteristics as potential risk factors for Long Covid: evidence from the multilevel analysis of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe's corona surveys (2020-2021).
Age Ageing
; 52(12)2023 12 01.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38124254
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
A substantial proportion of individuals continue experiencing persistent symptoms following the acute stage of their Covid-19 illness. However, there is a shortage of population-based studies on Long Covid risk factors.OBJECTIVE:
To estimate the prevalence of Long Covid in the population of middle-aged and older Europeans having contracted Covid-19 and to assess the role of multimorbidity and socio-economic characteristics as potential risk factors of Long Covid.METHODS:
A population-based longitudinal prospective study involving a sample of respondents 50 years and older (n = 4,004) from 27 countries who participated in the 2020 and 2021 Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), in particular the Corona Surveys. Analyses were conducted by a multilevel (random intercept) hurdle negative binomial model.RESULTS:
Overall, 71.6% (95% confidence interval = 70.2-73.0%) of the individuals who contracted Covid-19 had at least one symptom of Long Covid up to 12 months after the infection, with an average of 3.06 (standard deviation = 1.88) symptoms. There were significant cross-country differences in the prevalence of Long Covid and number of symptoms. Higher education and being a man were associated with a lower risk of Long Covid, whilst being employed was associated with a higher risk of having Long Covid. Multimorbidity was associated with a higher number of symptoms and older age was associated with a lower number of symptoms.CONCLUSION:
Our results provide evidence on the substantial burden of Long Covid in Europe. Individuals who contracted Covid-19 may require long-term support or further medical intervention, putting additional pressure on national health care systems.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
Limits:
Aged
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
En
Journal:
Age Ageing
Year:
2023
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Canada