A Cross-Sectional Study of Symptom Prevalence, Frequency, Severity, and Impact of Long-COVID in Scotland: Part I

Mclaughlin, Marie; Cerexhe, Luke; Macdonald, Eilidh; Ingram, Joanne; Sanal-Hayes, Nilihan E.M.; Hayes, Lawrence D.; Meach, Rachel; Carless, David; Sculthorpe, Nicholas

doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2023.07.004

A Cross-Sectional Study of Symptom Prevalence, Frequency, Severity, and Impact of Long-COVID in Scotland: Part I

Mclaughlin, Marie; Cerexhe, Luke; Macdonald, Eilidh; Ingram, Joanne; Sanal-Hayes, Nilihan E.M.; Hayes, Lawrence D.; Meach, Rachel; Carless, David; Sculthorpe, Nicholas

Authors

Marie Mclaughlin

Luke Cerexhe

Eilidh Macdonald

Joanne Ingram

Dr Nilihan Sanal-Hayes N.E.M.Sanal-Hayes@salford.ac.uk
Lecturer in Psychology

Lawrence D. Hayes

Rachel Meach

David Carless

Nicholas Sculthorpe

Abstract

Background
Commonly reported symptoms of long COVID may have different patterns of prevalence and presentation across different countries. While some limited data have been reported for the United Kingdom, national specificity for Scotland is less clear. We present a cross-sectional survey to examine the symptom prevalence, frequency, and severity of long COVID for people living with the condition in Scotland.
Methods
An online survey was created in the English language and was available between April 21, 2022 and August 5, 2022. Participants were included if they were ≥18 years old, living in Scotland, and had self-diagnosed or confirmed long COVID; and excluded if they were hospitalized during their initial infection. Within this article we quantify symptom prevalence, frequency, severity, and duration.
Results
Participants (n = 253) reported the most prevalent long-COVID symptoms to be post-exertional malaise (95%), fatigue/tiredness (85%), and cognitive impairment (68%). Fatigue/tiredness, problems with activities of daily living (ADL), and general pain were most frequently occurring, while sleep difficulties, problems with ADL, and nausea were the most severe. Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation associated with symptom number, severity, and frequency, whereas vaccine status, age, sex, and smoking status had limited or no association.
Conclusions
These findings outline the challenges faced for those living with long COVID and highlight the need for longitudinal research to ascertain a better understanding of the condition and its longer-term societal impact.

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Jul 5, 2023
Online Publication Date	Jul 19, 2023
Deposit Date	Feb 20, 2024
Publicly Available Date	Jul 20, 2024
Journal	The American Journal of Medicine
Electronic ISSN	1555-7162
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2023.07.004
Keywords	General Medicine