Persistent symptoms, cognitive impairment, and clinical predictors of long COVID one year after Omicron infection: A clinical case–control study from the Faroe Islands

by Gunnhild Helmsdal, Marnar Fríðheim Kristiansen, Eyðbjørg Klemmentsen Gaard, Barbara Joensen Eysturoy, Pál Weihe, Eina Hansen Eliasen, Maria Skaalum Petersen

Background

Six years since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, the newer variants of the virus continue to have long-term health effects.

Objectives

The aim of the study was to investigate persistent symptoms, cognitive impairment, and clinical and paraclinical predictors of long COVID in individuals infected during the Omicron wave.

Methods

We conducted a clinical case-control study including participants with persistent symptoms up to 13 months after confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection (long COVID or LC group) and antibody-verified never-infected controls (NI group).

Results

A total symptom score based on a 24-item questionnaire was strongly associated with increased odds of long COVID (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.21, 95% CI 1.13–1.30, p  Conclusions

One year after Omicron infection, a subset of people continue to experience a substantial symptom burden, particularly fatigue, cognitive impairment, and mental well-being, and a higher frequency of intercurrent infections.