Physical, psychological and cognitive profile of post-COVID condition in healthcare workers, Quebec, Canada
Authors: Carazo Sara , Skowronski Danuta M. , Laforce Robert , Talbot Denis , Falcone Emilia L. , Laliberté Denis , Denis Geoffroy , Deshaies Pierre , Hegg-Deloye Sandrine , De Serres Gaston 
Published: March 2022

Importance

Most adults with COVID-19 do not require hospitalization, but the subsequent risk of post-COVID condition, including associated psychological and cognitive dysfunction, remains poorly understood among non-hospitalized versus hospitalized cases.

Objective

To assess the prevalence and duration of post-COVID condition, including physical, psychological and cognitive symptoms.

Design

Case series and case-control study between December 2020 and May 2021

Setting

Healthcare workers in Quebec, Canada

Participants

Eligible cases were symptomatic healthcare workers with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 between July 2020 and May 2021. Among 17,717 contacted cases, 6061 (34%) participated. A random sample of symptomatic healthcare workers with negative PCR result between November 2020 and May 2021 served as controls. Among 11,498 contacted controls, 4390 (38%) participated.

Exposures

In multivariable models, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, as well as vaccine history, were evaluated as potential risk factors. Prevalence ratios compared self-reported cognitive dysfunctions (difficulty concentrating; difficulty organizing oneself; forgetfulness; loss of necessary items) among cases with post-COVID condition to controls, adjusting for psychological distress and fatigue.

Outcomes

Post-COVID condition was defined by symptoms persisting ≥4 weeks or ≥12 weeks after COVID-19 onset.

Results

Four-week and 12-week post-COVID condition prevalences of 46% (2,746/5,943) and 40% (653/1,746), respectively, were observed among non-hospitalized cases and 76% (90/118) and 68% (27/37), respectively, among hospitalized cases. Hospitalization, female sex and age were associated with higher risk.

A substantial proportion of non-hospitalized cases with 4-week post-COVID condition often or very often reported cognitive dysfunction, including concentration (33%) or organizing (23%) difficulties, forgetfulness (20%) and loss of necessary items (10%), with no decline at 12 weeks. All four aspects of cognitive dysfunction were 2.2 to 3.0 times more prevalent among cases with post-COVID condition than in controls, but also independently associated with psychological distress and fatigue.

Conclusions and relevance

Post-COVID condition may be a frequent sequela of ambulatory COVID-19 in working-age adults, with important effects on cognition. With so many healthcare workers infected since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing implications for quality healthcare delivery could be profound should cognitive dysfunction and other severe post-COVID symptoms persist in a professionally-disabling way over the longer term.

Key points

Question

How common and long-lasting are the physical, psychological and cognitive effects of post-COVID condition in healthcare workers, both hospitalized and non-hospitalized?

Findings

The prevalence of post-COVID condition was 46% at 4 weeks and 40% at 12 weeks among non-hospitalized cases and 76% and 68% among hospitalized cases. One third of non-hospitalized healthcare workers with post-COVID condition reported cognitive impairment, which was independently associated with persistent physical symptoms, but also psychological distress and fatigue.

Meaning

Persistent cognitive and other professionally-disabling sequelae of COVID-19 in essential workers could have critical implications for quality healthcare delivery during and after the pandemic.