Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41845161›Full record

ArticleInfection2026

Persistence of Post-Acute COVID-19 Sequelae (PASC) symptoms in healthcare workers four years after ancestral SARS-CoV-2 infection: a prospective multicentre cohort.

Philipp Saurer, Tala Ballouz, Alexia Cusini, Sarah R Haile, Christian R Kahlert, Matthias von Kietzell, Stefan P Kuster, Markus Rütti, Matthias Schlegel, Carol Strahm and 7 more

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in Infection, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors.

Philipp SaurerEpidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute (EBPI), University of Zurich, Hirschengraben 84, 8001, Zurich, Switzerland. philippdaniel.saurer@uzh.ch.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0005-7056-4412
Tala BallouzEpidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute (EBPI), University of Zurich, Hirschengraben 84, 8001, Zurich, Switzerland.
Alexia CusiniCantonal Hospital Graubuenden, Chur, Switzerland.
Sarah R HaileEpidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute (EBPI), University of Zurich, Hirschengraben 84, 8001, Zurich, Switzerland.
Christian R KahlertDivision of Infectious Diseases, Infection Prevention and Travel Medicine, HOCH, Cantonal Hospital St.Gallen, Rorschacher Strasse 95, 9007, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Matthias von KietzellHirslanden Clinic Stephanshorn, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Stefan P KusterDivision of Infectious Diseases, Infection Prevention and Travel Medicine, HOCH, Cantonal Hospital St.Gallen, Rorschacher Strasse 95, 9007, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Markus RüttiDivision of Internal Medicine, HOCH, Hospital Wil, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Matthias SchlegelDivision of Infectious Diseases, Infection Prevention and Travel Medicine, HOCH, Cantonal Hospital St.Gallen, Rorschacher Strasse 95, 9007, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Carol StrahmDivision of Infectious Diseases, Infection Prevention and Travel Medicine, HOCH, Cantonal Hospital St.Gallen, Rorschacher Strasse 95, 9007, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Reto StockerHirslanden Clinic Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Danielle Vuichard-GysinDivision of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Thurgau Hospital Group, Muensterlingen, Frauenfeld, Switzerland.
Lorenz RischLabormedizinisches Zentrum Dr Risch Ostschweiz AG, Buchs, Switzerland.
Milo A PuhanEpidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute (EBPI), University of Zurich, Hirschengraben 84, 8001, Zurich, Switzerland.
Tamara Dörr *Division of Infectious Diseases, Infection Prevention and Travel Medicine, HOCH, Cantonal Hospital St.Gallen, Rorschacher Strasse 95, 9007, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Philipp Kohler *Division of Infectious Diseases, Infection Prevention and Travel Medicine, HOCH, Cantonal Hospital St.Gallen, Rorschacher Strasse 95, 9007, St. Gallen, Switzerland. philipp.kohler@h-och.ch.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0427-8934
the SURPRISE+ cohort

Funding

Swiss National Sciences Foundation SNSF 31CA30_196544
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposePost-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (PASC), or long COVID (LC), remains a significant burden for public health, with limited long-term data. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and evolution of PASC symptoms after ancestral SARS-CoV-2 (aSCV2) infection in a longitudinal healthcare worker (HCW) cohort.

methodsA multicentre cohort study involving HCWs from 14 institutions was conducted in Switzerland. Infection status was based on self-reported positive swabs, with additional serology used to confirm uninfected controls. Baseline was defined as the first survey conducted in 2022 (median 18.5 months post-infection), with follow-up surveys every 6 months through November 2024. To identify PASC-specific symptoms, 24 chronic symptoms were compared between 456 aSCV2-infected and 571 uninfected participants using chi-square tests at baseline. In aSCV2-infected individuals reporting PASC-specific symptoms, symptom trajectories and subjective LC were analyzed across follow-up surveys. Functional limitations were assessed using the Post-COVID Functional Status (PCFS) scale.

resultsThirteen of 24 symptoms were more common in aSCV2-infected individuals, with fatigue (22.8%), loss of smell/taste (11.4%), and brain fog (8.3%) being most prevalent. At baseline, 186/456 (40.8%) infected participants reported ≥ 1 PASC-specific symptom. Most symptoms declined in prevalence up to the last survey (median 47.5 months post-infection), although 41/70 (58.6%) remaining participants still reported ≥ 1 PASC symptom. Subjective LC was reported by 70/186 (37.6%) and was associated with higher symptom burden. PCFS scores showed slight impairments in most cases, although moderate-to-severe limitations often persisted.

conclusionsPASC symptoms persisted up to four years after aSCV2 infection in a substantial proportion of HCWs.

Indexed as

COVID-19Health PersonnelAdultFatigueFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedPost-Acute COVID-19 SyndromePrevalenceProspective StudiesSARS-CoV-2SwitzerlandSymptom BurdenAncestral SARS-CoV-2Healthcare workersLong COVIDPost-Acute COVID-19 Sequelae (PASC)Symptom prevalence

Identifiers

PMID41845161
PMCPMC13323120

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.