Physical, cognitive, and mental health impacts of Omicron reinfection in patients with original SARS-CoV-2 infection: a community-based observational study.

BACKGROUND

Epidemiological and clinical evidence suggests that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) reinfection is a complication in a proportion of patients reporting ongoing health issues. However, most studies in the field of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection have focused only on self-reported symptoms and lacked long-term objective measurements. This study aimed to estimate the pattern of chronic symptoms of Omicron reinfection in patients with original SARS-CoV-2 infection by comprehensively assessments 3 years after recovery.

METHODS

This community-based observational study was conducted in Wuhan, China, between January and April in 2023. All participants were recruited from community and invited to participate the interview and examination in a hospital. The subjective multi-system symptoms were self-reported. The objective radiological features and laboratory data were assessed by measuring blood inflammation and performing chest computed tomography (CT) and pulse oxygen saturation.

RESULTS

Among 1438 individuals who participated in the study, 144 were infected with the original variant only in 2020, 980 were Omicron-infected in 2023, 215 were reinfected both in 2020 and 2023, and 99 were never infected. Compared with the non-infection group, the reinfection (odds ratio (OR), 5.15 [95% confidence intervals (CIs), 2.96-8.96]) group was associated with the highest risk of any of chronic physical symptoms, followed by the Omicron infection (3.45 [2.19-5.44]) and original variant infection (2.90 [1.63-5.15]) groups. Compared with the non-infection group, the reinfection (4.05 [2.30-7.14]), Omicron infection (3.72 [2.26-6.11]), and original variant infection (2.71 [1.48-4.95]) groups were associated with an increased risk of any of chronic mental symptoms. Moreover, of all groups, the reinfection group reported the highest seropositivity rate for C-reactive protein, and the highest prevalence rates of ground glass opacities on chest CT and hypoxaemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that reinfection may be a risk factor for long COVID conditions. These findings provide information for the clinical management and healthcare services of long COVID and SARS-CoV-2 reinfection and highlight the importance taking necessary action to prepare for a future pandemic. The long-term follow-up will be needed to verify the impact of different SARS-CoV-2 infection status on long COVID in the future.