Associations of Country-Specific and Sociodemographic Factors With Self-Reported COVID-19-Related Symptoms: Multivariable Analysis of Data From the CoronaCheck Mobile Health Platform

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 symptom-monitoring apps provide direct feedback to users about the suspected risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 and advice on how to proceed to prevent the spread of the virus. We have developed the CoronaCheck mobile health (mHealth) platform, the first free app that provides easy access to valid information about the risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 in English and German. Previous studies have suggested that the clinical characteristics of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 vary by age, gender, and viral variant; however, potential differences between countries have not been adequately studied.

Objective: The aim of this study is to describe the characteristics of the users of the CoronaCheck mHealth platform and to determine country-specific and sociodemographic associations of COVID-19-related symptoms and previous contacts with individuals infected with COVID-19.

Methods: Between April 8, 2020, and February 3, 2022, data on sociodemographic characteristics, symptoms, and reports of previous close contacts with individuals infected with COVID-19 were collected from CoronaCheck users in different countries. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to examine whether self-reports of COVID-19-related symptoms and recent contact with a person infected with COVID-19 differed between countries (Germany, India, South Africa), gender identities, age groups, education, and calendar year.

Results: Most app users (N=23,179) were from Germany (n=8116, 35.0%), India (n=6622, 28.6%), and South Africa (n=3705, 16.0%). Most data were collected in 2020 (n=19,723, 85.1%). In addition, 64% (n=14,842) of the users were male, 52.1% (n=12,077) were ≥30 years old, and 38.6% (n=8953) had an education level of more than 11 years of schooling. Headache, muscle pain, fever, loss of smell, loss of taste, and previous contacts with individuals infected with COVID-19 were reported more frequently by users in India (adjusted odds ratios [aORs] 1.3-8.3, 95% CI 1.2-9.2) and South Africa (aORs 1.1-2.6, 95% CI 1.0-3.0) than those in Germany. Cough, general weakness, sore throat, and shortness of breath were more frequently reported in India (aORs 1.3-2.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.9) compared to Germany. Gender-diverse users reported symptoms and contacts with confirmed COVID-19 cases more often compared to male users.

Conclusions: Patterns of self-reported COVID-19-related symptoms and awareness of a previous contact with individuals infected with COVID-19 seemed to differ between India, South Africa, and Germany, as well as by gender identity in these countries. Viral symptom-collecting apps, such as the CoronaCheck mHealth platform, may be promising tools for pandemics to support appropriate assessments. Future mHealth research on country-specific differences during a pandemic should aim to recruit representative samples.

Keywords: COVID-19; COVID-19 symptoms; English; Germany; India; South Africa; age; app; education; gender; information; muscle pain; pain; sociodemographic; symptoms; weakness.

Figure 1

App illustration: screenshots of (1) Start Check, (2) Questionnaire, (3) Feedback Module, (4) Tips, and (5) Detailed Tip.

Figure 2

aORs and their 95% CIs stratified by the country of the CoronaCheck app users. aOR: adjusted odds ratio.

Figure 3

aORs and their 95% CIs stratified by the gender identity of the CoronaCheck app users. aOR: adjusted odds ratio.

Figure 4

aORs and their 95% CIs stratified by educational level (years of schooling). aOR: adjusted odds ratio.

Figure 5

aORs and their 95% CIs stratified by the year of using the CoronaCheck app. aOR: adjusted odds ratio.

Figure 6

aORs and their 95% CIs stratified by user status (ie, user-reported symptoms for another person or for oneself). aOR: adjusted odds ratio.