Prevalence and Characteristics of Persistent Symptoms After Non-Severe COVID-19: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract We performed a prospective cohort study of 311 outpatients with non-severe COVID-19 (187 women, median age 39 years). Of the 214 (68.8%) who completed the 6-week follow-up questionnaire, 115 (53.7%) had recovered. Others mostly reported dyspnea (n=86, 40.2%), weight loss (n=83, 38.8%), sleep disorders (n=68, 31.8%), and anxiety (n=56, 26.2%). Of those who developed ageusia and anosmia, these symptoms were still present at week 6 in, respectively, 11/111 (9.9%), and 19/114 (16.7%). Chest CT scan and lung function tests found no explanation in the most disabled patients (n=23). This study confirms the high prevalence of persistent symptoms after non-severe COVID-19.