Post-COVID-19 condition in prospective inpatient and outpatient cohorts

: Hurme, Antti; Viinanen, Arja; Teräsjärvi, Johanna; Jalkanen, Pinja; Feuth, Thijs; Löyttyniemi, Eliisa; Vuorinen, Tytti; Kantele, Anu; Oksi, Jarmo; He, Qiushui; Julkunen, Ilkka

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

: BERLIN

: 2025

: Scientific Reports

: SCI REP-UK

: 6925

: 15

: 1

: 12

: 2045-2322

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90819-1

: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90819-1

: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/491269691

Viral persistence, immune dysregulation, hypocortisolism, and pulmonary tissue damage from acute infection are proposed as pathogenic mechanisms underlying post-COVID-19 condition (PCC). In this prospective observational study, we followed 62 COVID-19 inpatients and 53 COVID-19 outpatients for 24 months after the infection. During this period, we assessed prolonged symptoms, lung function, and a set of immunological markers and a proportion of the patient group was assessed with computed tomography three months post-infection. The prevalence of PCC, as assessed by four medical specialists, decreased from 51% at three months to 18% at 24 months. Risk factors included the severity of the acute infection and comorbidities of obstructive sleep apnea or obesity. Patients with PCC had higher serum levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 S1 and N protein antibodies. In the whole group, spirometry results, orthostatic hypotension, or levels of soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2, interleukin 6 (IL-6), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), or cortisol had no association with PCC. However, using symptom clusters, patients with cognitive problems had lower cortisol levels, while patients with ongoing respiratory or myalgic symptoms had higher levels of IL-6 and hs-CRP. However, more extensive studies with clustering are needed to validate these results.

s41598-025-90819-1.pdf

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This study was funded by the Academy of Finland (Grant Number 337530), Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation (Grant Numbers 3067-84b53 and 5360-cc2fc), Wellbeing Services County of Lapland, the Sigrid Jusélius Foundation (Grant Number 240045) and Tampere Tuberculosis Foundation (Grant Number 26006205).