Long-term prognosis of adults with moderately severe SARS-CoV-2 lower respiratory tract infection managed in primary care: Prospective cohort study

Background Information about the incidence of persisting symptoms after COVID-19 and its impact on patients treated in primary care are scarce.Objectives To determine differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and symptomatology between adults with and without SARS-CoV-2 moderately severe...

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Main Authors: Tamara N. Platteel, Johannes C. Koelmans, Daniela Cianci, Natasha J. H. Broers, Eefje G. P. M. de Bont, Jochen W. L. Cals, Roderick P. Venekamp, Theo J. M. Verheij
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:European Journal of General Practice
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/13814788.2025.2501306
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author Tamara N. Platteel
Johannes C. Koelmans
Daniela Cianci
Natasha J. H. Broers
Eefje G. P. M. de Bont
Jochen W. L. Cals
Roderick P. Venekamp
Theo J. M. Verheij
author_facet Tamara N. Platteel
Johannes C. Koelmans
Daniela Cianci
Natasha J. H. Broers
Eefje G. P. M. de Bont
Jochen W. L. Cals
Roderick P. Venekamp
Theo J. M. Verheij
author_sort Tamara N. Platteel
collection DOAJ
description Background Information about the incidence of persisting symptoms after COVID-19 and its impact on patients treated in primary care are scarce.Objectives To determine differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and symptomatology between adults with and without SARS-CoV-2 moderately severe lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in the 12 months following their primary care visit.Methods Prospective cohort study in 35 Dutch practices. Individuals aged ≥18 years who presented to their general practitioner (GP) with a moderately severe LRTI during the first COVID-19 waive in The Netherlands (March–June 2020, n = 277; 268 (97%) with complete follow-up) were included between September and December 2020, then underwent serology testing (participants, GPs and study personnel remained blinded for serology outcomes during study conduct) and completed baseline and follow-up questionnaires. Main outcome measures: (1) SF-36 scores, and (2) risk of persisting symptoms during 12 months follow-up.Results The change in SF-36 PSC (p = 0.13), MCS (p = 0.30) during 12 months follow-up did not differ between SARS-CoV-2 serology positive and negative participants after adjusting for sex, age, BMI, diabetes, and chronic pulmonary conditions. The risk of any persisting symptom during 12 months follow-up did not significantly differ between the groups (aHR 0.61, 95% CI 0.33–1.15), nor did the risk of individual symptoms.Conclusions In the 12 months following their moderately severe LRTI, primary care patients with and without confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection had a comparable HRQoL profile. A substantial proportion of participants reported persisting symptoms, indicating that persisting symptoms can occur following LRTIs irrespective of causative pathogen.
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spelling doaj-art-59fe3e4269fd4f5393daf82af72651c32025-08-20T01:58:19ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEuropean Journal of General Practice1381-47881751-14022025-12-0131110.1080/13814788.2025.2501306Long-term prognosis of adults with moderately severe SARS-CoV-2 lower respiratory tract infection managed in primary care: Prospective cohort studyTamara N. Platteel0Johannes C. Koelmans1Daniela Cianci2Natasha J. H. Broers3Eefje G. P. M. de Bont4Jochen W. L. Cals5Roderick P. Venekamp6Theo J. M. Verheij7Department of General Practice & Nursing Science, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The NetherlandsDepartment of General Practice & Nursing Science, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The NetherlandsDepartment of General Practice & Nursing Science, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Family Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Family Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The NetherlandsDepartment of Family Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The NetherlandsDepartment of General Practice & Nursing Science, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The NetherlandsDepartment of General Practice & Nursing Science, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The NetherlandsBackground Information about the incidence of persisting symptoms after COVID-19 and its impact on patients treated in primary care are scarce.Objectives To determine differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and symptomatology between adults with and without SARS-CoV-2 moderately severe lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in the 12 months following their primary care visit.Methods Prospective cohort study in 35 Dutch practices. Individuals aged ≥18 years who presented to their general practitioner (GP) with a moderately severe LRTI during the first COVID-19 waive in The Netherlands (March–June 2020, n = 277; 268 (97%) with complete follow-up) were included between September and December 2020, then underwent serology testing (participants, GPs and study personnel remained blinded for serology outcomes during study conduct) and completed baseline and follow-up questionnaires. Main outcome measures: (1) SF-36 scores, and (2) risk of persisting symptoms during 12 months follow-up.Results The change in SF-36 PSC (p = 0.13), MCS (p = 0.30) during 12 months follow-up did not differ between SARS-CoV-2 serology positive and negative participants after adjusting for sex, age, BMI, diabetes, and chronic pulmonary conditions. The risk of any persisting symptom during 12 months follow-up did not significantly differ between the groups (aHR 0.61, 95% CI 0.33–1.15), nor did the risk of individual symptoms.Conclusions In the 12 months following their moderately severe LRTI, primary care patients with and without confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection had a comparable HRQoL profile. A substantial proportion of participants reported persisting symptoms, indicating that persisting symptoms can occur following LRTIs irrespective of causative pathogen.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/13814788.2025.2501306COVID-19primary carelong-term prognosis
spellingShingle Tamara N. Platteel
Johannes C. Koelmans
Daniela Cianci
Natasha J. H. Broers
Eefje G. P. M. de Bont
Jochen W. L. Cals
Roderick P. Venekamp
Theo J. M. Verheij
Long-term prognosis of adults with moderately severe SARS-CoV-2 lower respiratory tract infection managed in primary care: Prospective cohort study
European Journal of General Practice
COVID-19
primary care
long-term prognosis
title Long-term prognosis of adults with moderately severe SARS-CoV-2 lower respiratory tract infection managed in primary care: Prospective cohort study
title_full Long-term prognosis of adults with moderately severe SARS-CoV-2 lower respiratory tract infection managed in primary care: Prospective cohort study
title_fullStr Long-term prognosis of adults with moderately severe SARS-CoV-2 lower respiratory tract infection managed in primary care: Prospective cohort study
title_full_unstemmed Long-term prognosis of adults with moderately severe SARS-CoV-2 lower respiratory tract infection managed in primary care: Prospective cohort study
title_short Long-term prognosis of adults with moderately severe SARS-CoV-2 lower respiratory tract infection managed in primary care: Prospective cohort study
title_sort long term prognosis of adults with moderately severe sars cov 2 lower respiratory tract infection managed in primary care prospective cohort study
topic COVID-19
primary care
long-term prognosis
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/13814788.2025.2501306
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