1 in 7 Report Persistent Symptoms After Mild COVID-19

By Kelly Young

Edited by André Sofair, MD, MPH, and William E. Chavey, MD, MS

Roughly 15% of patients who had mild COVID-19 symptoms still had symptoms 8 months later, according to a JAMA research letter.

Researchers compared some 300 healthcare workers in Sweden who were seropositive for SARS-CoV-2 and had mild or no symptoms with 1100 who were seronegative. The seropositive group was more likely to have at least one moderate-to-severe symptom at least 8 months later (15% vs. 3%).

The most common prolonged symptoms were anosmia, fatigue, ageusia, and dyspnea. These symptoms occasionally disrupted people's work, social, and home life.