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. 2025 Mar 1;37(3):308-312.
doi: 10.1097/MEG.0000000000002923. Epub 2025 Jan 29.

Post-COVID general health symptoms in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases

Natasja van de Pol  1 , C Janneke van der Woude  1 , Marijn Vis  2 , Martijn B A van Doorn  3 , Saskia L Schrauwen  4 , Fatos Cetinözman-Teunissen  5 , Rachel L West  6 , Qiuwei Pan  1 , Annemarie C de Vries  1
Affiliations

Post-COVID general health symptoms in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases

Natasja van de Pol et al. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. .

Abstract

Background: Post-COVID entails persistent symptoms following a presumed or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study aims to evaluate post-COVID general health symptoms reported by patients with IMIDs.

Methods: An online questionnaire was distributed to IMID patients on systemic therapy at dermatology, rheumatology, and gastroenterology departments in the Netherlands. General health symptoms were compared between patients with and without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for disease-related factors and known post-COVID risk factors. Self-reported prevalence of post-COVID symptoms was assessed by asking patients if they linked their symptoms to the previous SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Results: A total of 1518 patients were included, and 58% (n = 877) reported ≥1 SARS-CoV-2 infections. When assessing self-reported prevalence of post-COVID symptoms, 13.9% (122/877) linked their symptoms to a previous infection. Patients with a previous infection showed higher prevalence of symptoms than those without (56.2%, 43.9%; P < 0.001), and higher prevalence of fatigue (42%, 32%; P < 0.001). After adjusting for potential risk factors, previous infection was associated with symptoms (OR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.23-1.91; P < 0.001), and fatigue (OR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.04-1.64; P = 0.021). Subanalysis showed an association between self-reported COVID-19 severity and symptoms, while presumed SARS-CoV-2 variant (based on date of reported infection) and number of infections were not associated.

Conclusion: The self-reported prevalence of general health symptoms, particularly fatigue, is significantly higher in IMID patients with a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. The cause of this increase requires further investigation and might provide insights into the pathogenesis of post-COVID, both relevant for IMID patients as well as the general population.

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Conflict of interest statement

C.J.W. received grants from ZonMW, Falk, and Pfizer, has received consulting fees from Janssen, Galapagos, and Pfizer, has received payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, speakers bureaus, manuscript writing or educational events from Ferring and AbbVie and had leadership roles in the European Crohn’s & Colitis organisation, United European Gastroenterology council and the Dutch Association for Gastroenterology (NVGE); M.V. received research funding/advisory board fees from Novartis, UCB, Janssen, AbbVie, Lilly, and Pfizer; M.B.A.D. reports grants and has served on the advisory board or as a speaker for Novartis and Janssen-Cilag. He has also served on the advisory board or as a speaker for AbbVie, Leopharma, BMS, Celgene, Lilly, MSD, Pfizer, and Sanofi-Genzyme; R.L.W. has received payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, speakers bureaus, manuscript writing or educational events from Ferring, Pfizer, Galapagos, AbbVie and Janssen; A.C.V. has served on advisory boards for Takeda, Janssen, Bristol Myers Squibb, AbbVie, Pfizer, and Galapagos and has received unrestricted research grants from Takeda, Janssen, and Pfizer. For the remaining authors, there are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
General health symptoms in patients with and without a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. Data of the general health symptoms are described as a percentage of the total population with or without a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. The total includes all patients who reported at least one symptom as a percentage of the total population with or without a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. *P < 0.001. SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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