Post-COVID-19 Condition in Hospitalized Survivors After 1 Year of Infection During the Alpha- and Delta-variant Dominant Waves in Japan: COVID-19 Recovery Study II
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Evidence of post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) in the Alpha- and Delta-variant dominant waves is limited. METHODS: In a nationwide multicenter cohort study in collaboration with 20 hospitals, we collected data using self-administered questionnaires and electronic medical records of participants aged 20 or more diagnosed with COVID-19, hospitalized between April 1, 2021 and September 30, 2021, and discharged alive. Descriptive statistics were analyzed for PCC and mental health (HADS anxiety and depression scores), comparing Alpha- and Delta-variant dominant waves. RESULTS: We analyzed 1,040 patients (median age, 57 [IQR 49-66] years; men, 66.2%). Of the respondents, 45.4% had at least one PCC symptom 1 year after infection. The common symptoms included dyspnea (20.7%), fatigue/malaise (17.6%), muscle weakness (15.4%), decrease in concentration (13.4%), and sleep disorder (13.3%), followed by brain fog (8.4%). Among patients with PCC, 14.0% had anxiety (HADS-Anxiety ≥11), and 18.6% had depression (HADS-Depression ≥11), with four times higher proportions than those without PCC; only small variations by age, sex, and waves were observed. Associated factors for PCC were age 40 years or over, women, severity of COVID-19 during hospitalization, ex-smokers who quit smoking before COVID-19 infection and being infected during the Delta-variant dominant wave. CONCLUSION: The study described the prevalence of PCC, associated factors, and mental health of COVID-19 survivors hospitalized during the Alpha- and Delta-variant dominant waves in Japan. Further follow-up will be conducted to examine the longer-term impact of COVID-19 on PCC, complications, daily life, and socioeconomic status.
Source: Journal of Epidemiology
Authors: Yoko Muto, Mariko Hosozawa, Miyuki Hori, Arisa Iba, Shuhei Maruyama, Shinichiro Morioka, Katsuji Teruya, Takeshi Nishida, Toshiyuki Harada, Hideki Yoshida, Satoshi Miike, Akira Kawauchi, Hideaki Kato, Junji Hatakeyama, Shigeki Fujitani, Tomohiro Asahi, Kensuke Nakamura, Yuichi Sato, Taku Oshima, Futoshi Nagashima, Kohei Ota, Tatsuya Fuchigami, Nobuyuki Nosaka, Hiroshi Kamijo, Takeshi Hattori, Hayato Taniguchi, Hiroyasu Iso
Institutions: National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Kansai Medical University, Kansai Medical University Medical Center, Osaka Prefectural Medical Center, Osaka University Hospital, Hokkaido hospital, Japan Community Healthcare Organization, Yokohama City Seibu Hospital, Maebashi Red Cross Hospital, Yokohama City University Hospital, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Naha City Hospital, Hitachi General Hospital, Tokyo Metropolitan Tama Medical Center, Chiba University, Toyooka Hospital, Hiroshima University, University of the Ryukyus University Hospital, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Shinshu University, National Hospital Organization Hokkaido Medical Center, Yokohama City University Medical Center
Language: English
Subfield: Clinical Neurology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,356
OpenAlex ID: W4407348702