How long does post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) last? And who remains most vulnerable?
In our new study from the EuCARE POSTCOVID project, we followed over 850 patients — both hospitalized and not — up to 2 years after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our findings shed light on the evolving burden and clinical presentation of PCC.
Key findings:
• How common is PCC? PCC affected two-thirds of patients at 3 months post-infection and persisted in one-third at 2 years.
• How does it evolve? From anosmia/dysgeusia early on to fatigue, respiratory sequelae, chronic pain, and brain fog in the long term.
• What about mental health? Anxiety and PTSD were common among patients with PCC.
• Who’s at higher risk? Female sex, longer hospital stays, early pandemic infection (2020), and lack of vaccination were strongly associated with symptom persistence.
This is one of the largest long-term observational studies on PCC to date. While we observed a decline in overall prevalence, 1 in 3 patients exhibited persistent symptoms, underscoring the need for structured long-term follow-up.
The pandemic may have peaked, but for many, its impact lingers.
You can read the full article here!