Publication date: Sep 22, 2023

Reports suggest that the potential long-lasting health consequences of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection may involve persistent dysregulation of some immune populations, but the potential clinical implications are unknown. We investigated the associated risk of hospitalization due to non-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infectious diseases following the postacute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection. By cross-linking data from the comprehensive Danish test and surveillance system for COVID-19 together with nationwide healthcare and demographic registers, we established a study cohort of 2 430 694 individuals aged ≥50 years, from 1 January 2021 to 10 December 2022, with no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection prior to study entry. Using Poisson regression, we compared the outcome rates of non-COVID-19 infectious disease hospitalizations following the acute phase of (a first) SARS-CoV-2 infection (defined as ≥29 days since the day of infection) in recovered individuals with rates among SARS-CoV-2-uninfected individuals. Among 2 430 694 included individuals (mean age, 66. 8 [standard deviation, 11. 3] years), 930 071 acquired SARS-CoV-2 infection during follow-up totaling 4 519 913 person-years. The postacute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with an incidence rate ratio (IRR) of 0. 90 (95% confidence interval [CI]: .88-. 92) for any infectious disease hospitalization. Findings (IRR [95% CI]) were similar for upper respiratory tract (1. 08 [. 97-1. 20]), lower respiratory tract (0. 90 [. 87-. 93]), influenza (1. 04 [. 94-1. 15]), gastrointestinal (1. 28 [. 78-2. 09]), skin (0. 98 [. 93-1. 03]), urinary tract (1. 01 [. 96-1. 08]), certain invasive bacterial (0. 96 [. 91-1. 01]), and other (0. 96 [. 92-1. 00]) infectious disease hospitalizations and in subgroups. Our study does not support an increased susceptibility to non-COVID-19 infectious disease hospitalization following SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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