Observational studyBMJ open2025
Two years and counting: a prospective cohort study on the scope and severity of post-COVID symptoms across diverse patient groups in the Netherlands-insights from the CORFU study.
Observational study in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT05240742 (Persistent Complaints After COVID-19), which is not on this map. Cited by 3 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Persistent Complaints After COVID-19: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Prediction, and Communication, the CORona Follow Up (CORFU) Study
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Psychometric validation of a cognition and social participation bolt-on for the EQ-5D-5L in SARS-CoV-2 infected German healthcare workers.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2026Article
- Prevalence and Persistence of Post-COVID-19 Condition After Critical Care: 32-Month Follow-Up.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Development and internal validation of a prediction model for post-COVID-19 condition 2 years after infection-results of the CORFU study.Diagnostic and prognostic research · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
29 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
importanceLittle research has been done on post-COVID symptoms at 24 months postinfection and on the association these may have on health-related quality of life (HRQOL).
objectiveWe assessed the prevalence and severity of post-COVID symptoms and quantified EuroQol 5 Dimension 5 Level (EQ-5D-5L), self-perceived health question (EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS)) and health utility scores (HUS) up to 24 months follow-up.
designThe longitudinal multiple cohort CORona Follow-Up (CORFU) study combines seven COVID-19 patient cohorts and a survey among the general public. The participants received questionnaires on several time points. Participants were stratified by: without a known SARS-CoV-2 infection (control group), proven SARS-CoV-2 infection but non-hospitalised, proven SARS-CoV-2 infection hospitalised to the ward, and proven SARS-CoV-2 infection hospitalised to the intensive care unit (ICU).
settingIn this study, data of seven COVID-19 patient cohorts and a survey among the general public are included.
participantsFormer COVID-19 patients and controls participated in this cohort study. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Former COVID-19 patients and non-COVID-19 controls were sent questionnaires on symptoms associated with post-COVID condition. The CORFU questionnaire included 14 symptom questions on post-COVID condition using a five-level Likert-scale format. Furthermore, HRQOL was quantified using the EuroQol EQ-5D-5L questionnaire: EQ-VAS and the EQ-5D-5L utility score. The EQ-5D-5L questionnaire includes five domains that are scored on a five-point Likert scale: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression.
resultsA total of 901 participants (and 434 controls) responded at 24 months follow-up. In all former COVID-19 patients, the presence of post-COVID condition at 24 months was observed in 62 (42.5%, 95% CI 34.3% to 50.9%) of the non-hospitalised patients, 333 (65.0%, 95% CI 60.7% to 69.2%) of the hospitalised ward patients and 156 (63.2%, 95% CI 56.8% to 69.2%) of the ICU patients, respectively (p<0.001). The most common symptoms included fatigue, sleep problems, muscle weakness/pain and breathing issues, with hospitalised participants reporting most often having symptoms. Multiple post-COVID symptoms were significantly associated with EQ-5D-5L measures. The mean and SD of the EQ-VAS were 71.6 (17.9), 70.0 (17.3) and 71.4 (17.5) for non-hospitalised, ward and ICU participants, respectively, and 75.6 (17.7) for the controls (p<0.001). The HUS resulted in 0.81 (0.20), 0.77 (0.19) and 0.79 (0.22) for non-hospitalised, hospitalised ward and ICU participants, respectively, and 0.84 (0.19) for the control group (CG) (p<0.001).
conclusionsMany former COVID-19 patients experience post-COVID symptoms at 24 months follow-up, with the highest prevalence in hospitalised participants. Also, former patients reported a lower HRQOL. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: The CORFU study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (registration number NCT05240742).
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