Publication date: Oct 15, 2024

There is a lack of large studies on long-COVID symptoms with symptoms measurements before the onset of COVID-19. Therefore, long-COVID is still poorly defined. The Norwegian COVID-19 Cohort Study is a population-based, open cohort of adult participants (aged 18-96 years) from Norway. From March 27, 2020, participants were recruited through social media, invitations, and nationwide media coverage. Fourteen somatic and cognitive symptoms were assessed at baseline and four follow-ups for up to 22 months. SARS-CoV-2 test status was obtained from a mandatory national registry or from self-report. After follow-up, 15 737 participants had a SARS-CoV-2-positive test, 67 305 a negative test, and 37 563 were still untested. Persistent symptoms reported more frequently by positive compared with negative participants one month after infection, were memory problems (3-6 months: adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 6. 8, CI = 5. 7-8. 1; >18 months: aOR = 9. 4, CI = 4. 1-22), and concentration problems (3-6 months: aOR = 4. 1, CI = 3. 5-4. 7; >18 months: aOR = 4. 4, CI = 2. 0-9. 7) as well fatigue, dyspnoea, anosmia and dysgeusia. COVID-19 was associated with cognitive symptoms, anosmia, dysgeusia, dyspnoea and fatigue as well as worsening of overall health up to 22 months after a SARS-CoV-2 test, even when correcting for symptoms before the onset of COVID-19.

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