The Long-Term Impacts of COVID-19 on Physical and Psychological Health - Beijing Municipality, China, December 2022-April 2023.

Abstract

Reports detailing the clinical presentation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are extensive in China. However, data remains limited regarding the long-term effects of the 2022 outbreak on the community and healthcare workers (HCWs). In the follow-up study conducted with 1,069 community members and 3,309 HCWs infected with COVID-19, we observed that five months post-outbreak, 39.2% of community members and 28.7% of HCWs reported experiencing at least one symptom. The symptoms most frequently reported included fatigue or muscle weakness, insomnia, cognitive dysfunction, hair loss, joint or muscle pain, and persistent cough. HCWs tended to experience fewer long-term physical consequences and their symptoms had an expedited recovery time compared to the community members. Nevertheless, HCWs displayed a higher prevalence of moderate to severe depression and anxiety. The establishment of a public healthcare system dedicated to continual monitoring, prevention, and clinical treatment of persistent COVID-19 symptoms is imperative.