Prevalence of persistent symptoms at least 1 month after SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection in adults

Background: Persistent post-COVID-19 symptoms pose an important health care burden. The Omicron variant has rapidly spread across the world and infected millions of people, largely exceeding previous variants. The potential for many of these people to develop persistent symptoms is a major public health concern. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of post-COVID-19 symptoms associated with Omicron.Methods: We conducted a single-centre prospective observational study in Quebec, Canada, between December 2021 and April 2022. Participants were adults enrolled in the Biobanque Qu & eacute;b & eacute;coise de la COVID-19 (BQC19). Cases were considered Omicron cases as more than 85% were estimated to be attributable to Omicron variant during that period. Adults with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed COVID-19 were recruited at least 4 weeks after the onset of infection.Results: Of 1,338 individuals contacted, 290 (21.7%) participants were recruited in BQC19 during that period. Median duration between the initial PCR test and follow-up was 44 days (IQR 31-56 d). A total of 137 (47.2%) participants reported symptoms at least 1-month post-infection. The majority (98.6%) had a history of mild COVID-19 illness. Most common persistent symptoms included fatigue (48.2%), shortness of breath (32.6%), and cough (24.1%). Number of symptoms during acute COVID-19 was identified as a risk factor for post-COVID-19 symptoms (OR 1.07 [95% CI 1.03% to 1.10%] p = 0.009).Conclusions: This is the first study reporting the prevalence of post-COVID-19 symptoms associated with Omicron in Canada. These findings will have important implications for provincial services planning. Historique : Les sympt & ocirc;mes post-COVID-19 persistants repr & eacute;sentent un fardeau important pour la sant & eacute;. Le variant Omicron s'est propag & eacute; rapidement dans le monde et a infect & eacute; des milliers de personnes, un nombre largement sup & eacute;rieur aux variants qui l'avaient pr & eacute;c & eacute;d & eacute;. Le risque que bon nombre d'entre elles acqui & egrave;rent des sympt & ocirc;mes persistants est un probl & egrave;me sanitaire majeur. La pr & eacute;sente & eacute;tude visait & agrave; d & eacute;terminer la pr & eacute;valence et les facteurs de risques de sympt & ocirc;mes post-COVID-19 li & eacute;s au variant Omicron.M & eacute;thodologie : Les chercheurs ont r & eacute;alis & eacute; une & eacute;tude observationnelle monocentrique & agrave; Qu & eacute;bec, au Canada, entre d & eacute;cembre 2021 et avril 2022. Les participants & eacute;taient des adultes inscrits & agrave; la Biobanque qu & eacute;b & eacute;coise de la COVID-19 (BQC19). Les cas & eacute;taient consid & eacute;r & eacute;s comme d & eacute;couler du variant Omicron parce que plus de 85% & eacute;taient estim & eacute;s y & ecirc;tre attribuables pendant cette p & eacute;riode. Les adultes atteints d'une COVID-19 confirm & eacute;e par un test d'amplification en cha & icirc;ne par polym & eacute;rase (PCR) ont & eacute;t & eacute; recrut & eacute;s au moins quatre semaines apr & egrave;s l'apparition de l'infection.R & eacute;sultats : Des 1 338 personnes contact & eacute;es, 290 (21,7%) ont & eacute;t & eacute; recrut & eacute;es dans la BQC19 pendant cette p & eacute;riode. La p & eacute;riode moyenne entre le test PCR initial et le suivi & eacute;tait de 44 jours (& Eacute;IQ: de 31 & agrave; 56 jours). Au total, 137 participants (47,2%) ont d & eacute;clar & eacute; des sympt & ocirc;mes au moins un mois apr & egrave;s l'infection. La majorit & eacute; avait & eacute;t & eacute; atteinte d'une COVID-19 l & eacute;g & egrave;re. Les sympt & ocirc;mes les plus persistants & eacute;taient la fatigue (48,2%), l'essoufflement (32,6%) et la toux (24,1%). Il a & eacute;t & eacute; & eacute;tabli que le nombre de sympt & ocirc;mes pendant la COVID-19 aigu & euml; (rapport de cotes: 1,07, IC & agrave; 95% 1,03% & agrave; 1,10%; p = 0,009) & eacute;tait un facteur de risque de sympt & ocirc;mes post-COVID-19.Conclusions : La pr & eacute;sente & eacute;tude est la premi & egrave;re & agrave; rendre compte de la pr & eacute;valence de sympt & ocirc;mes post-COVID-19 associ & eacute;s au variant Omicron au Canada. Ces observations auront des cons & eacute;quences importantes pour la planification des services provinciaux.