Publication date: Jan 23, 2025
Long-COVID research to date focuses on outcomes in non-hospitalised vs. hospitalised survivors. However Emergency Department attendees (post-ED) presenting with acute COVID-19 may experience less supported recovery compared to people admitted and discharged from hospital (post-hospitalised group, PH). We evaluated outcomes and predictors of specialty care referrals (SCR) in those with ongoing symptomatic Long-COVID, comparing post-ED and PH adults. This prospective observational cohort study evaluates 800 PH and 484 post-ED adults from a single hospital in London, United Kingdom. Participants had either confirmed laboratory-positive SARS-CoV-2 infection or clinically suspected acute COVID-19 and were offered post-COVID clinical follow-up at approximately six weeks after their ED attendance or inpatient discharge, to assess ongoing symptoms and support recovery. Multiple logistic regression determined associations with specialist care referrals (SCR) to respiratory, cardiology, physiotherapy (including chest physiotherapy), and mental health services. Presence of at least one Long-COVID symptom was lower in adults attending ED services with acute COVID-19 compared to those hospitalised (70. 1% post-ED vs. 79. 5% PH adults, p