Long COVID: 2 million people had post-COVID-19 symptoms by the end of 2022
Santé publique France is publishing and presenting at the 2023 Public Health Conference the initial findings of a new study aimed at estimating the prevalence of long COVID, conducted on a random sample of the general population in metropolitan France between September and November 2022.
surveys/studies
More information about the APCOVID-19 survey
Starting September 1, 2022, Santé publique France is launching a study to estimate the prevalence of post-COVID-19 conditions (also known as long COVID) and their impact on healthcare utilization,...
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, people infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus have reported experiencing prolonged or recurring symptoms that interfere with their daily functioning for several weeks or even months after infection. This phenomenon, commonly referred to as “long COVID,” is described by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “post-COVID-19 condition” and generally appears within 3 months of the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection.
To obtain initial estimates of the number of cases and the condition’s impact on healthcare utilization, quality of life, and mental health, Santé publique France conducted an initial study on the prevalence and impact of post-COVID-19 conditions in early 2022, which showed that 30% of respondents infected with SARS-CoV-2 had post-COVID-19 conditions according to the WHO definition. This corresponded to a prevalence of 4% in the general population. In light of the successive waves of the epidemic linked to the circulation of new variants, a new, more robust study was conducted between September and November 2022 among the adult population in metropolitan France. The results are being presented at the 2023 edition of the Rencontres de Santé publique France
Key Findings
The prevalence of post-COVID-19 condition (WHO definition) is estimated at 4% in the general adult population (corresponding to 2.06 million people).
1.2% of respondents reported a strong or very strong impact on their daily activities.
7.1% of participants reported having had long COVID when asked (reported long COVID).
Among the 48% of people who had been infected with SARS-CoV-2 more than three months prior, 8% met the criteria for post-COVID-19 condition.
Prevalence was higher among women (10.2%), job seekers (14.9%), and individuals who had been hospitalized for COVID-19 (18.6%).
21.3% of people reporting post-COVID-19 syndrome were infected during the Delta variant wave, and 53.2% during the Omicron variant waves.
Despite the stabilization of prevalence by the end of 2022, surveillance of long COVID—and particularly post-COVID-19 conditions—remains critically important in the coming months. This condition has indeed immediately established itself as one of the most common chronic conditions. In particular, prolonged cases (31% of cases) and those with symptoms that have a significant or very significant impact on daily activities (30%) likely represent a significant burden on the healthcare system.
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enquêtes/études
21 June 2023
Survey: "Long COVID – Post-COVID-19 Conditions, Metropolitan France," September–November 2022, Preliminary Results
FAQs on Long COVID
What is Long COVID?
According to the WHO, the condition generally appears within 3 months of the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection and is characterized by one or more symptoms that persist for at least 2 months, cannot be explained by other diagnoses, and have an impact on daily life.
What are the symptoms of Long COVID?
The list of symptoms includes, among others, fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, malaise after exertion, intermittent fever, loss of taste or smell, depression, and cognitive dysfunction.
Who is most affected by Long COVID?
Women and young, active individuals appear to be the most affected. Studies are underway to identify risk profiles.
What are the impacts of long COVID?
Long COVID has impacts particularly on daily activities, quality of life, and the ability to work. Studies are underway to refine and assess severity levels.
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