Top 10 takeaways from the latest Canadian data on long-COVID

Statistics Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada have released the first nationally representative data on long-COVID symptoms, which it defined as symptoms present three months after the acute infection phase of COVID. The result are from answers to the Canadian COVID-19 Antibody and Health Survey (CCAHS), which reached a random sample of adults between April and August, 2022. Those it reached had tested positive for COVID or suspected they had it between January 2020 and August 2022. Here are 10 key takeaways from those reports: 1. Around 1.4 million people—or 14.8% of those who had COVID—still had COVID symptoms three months after they were infected. That was either because they continued after the initial infection, or because they returned after the initial symptoms. That’s the equivalent of 4.6% of the entire Canadian population. 2. The most common symptom people reported was fatigue, with 72.1% of people saying they had fatigue three months after their infection. After that came cough (39.3%), shortness of breath (38.5%), brain fog (32.9%) and finally general weakness (30.9%). 3. Symptoms were often significant, with 21.3% of adults who experienced longer-term symptoms saying their symptoms often or always limited their daily activities. Three quarters (74.1%) of those with longer-term symptoms said they took time off of work or school as a result. The average amount of time they missed was 20 days. Read: Canadian study builds on link between long COVID and autoimmune diseases like lupus 4. Nearly half of those who reported long-term symptoms (47.3%) said that they had lasted a year or longer. 5. The rates of long-COVID were higher in women than men. Indeed, 18% of women reported prolonged COVID symptoms, while 11.6% of men did. 6. Those with more severe initial cases were more likely to have long-COVID symptoms—but even mild cases could result in prolonged issues. Of those who said they had severe symptoms (described as having had a significant effect on daily life) during their infection, 36.4% still had symptoms three months later. Of those who had moderate symptoms (described as having some effect on daily life), 15% reported long-term symptoms. And of those who had a mild case (described as having no effect on daily life), 6.3% reported did. For those with no symptoms, 2.5% reported long-COVID issues. 7. Age didn’t seem to affect the chances of getting long-COVID. There was no significant difference between age groups, with the rate for 18- to 34-year-olds being 14.9%; for 35- to 49-year-olds, 14.1%; for 50- to 64-year-olds, 16.2%; and for those over 65, 14.0%. Read: 'Common certainties' like rehabilitative exercise don't apply to helping patients with long COVID: town hall 8. Omicron cases were less likely to lead to long-COVID. Of those who were infected before December 2021—when the Omicron strain was first becoming predominant—25.8% had symptoms that lasted three months or longer. But for those who were infected after that time, only 10.5% had longer-term issues. 9. Nearly one-third of people said their symptoms resolved, then returned. Of those with long-term COVID symptoms, 32.5% said they had recovered from their initial symptoms before symptoms returned. People over 65 years old were least likely to have their symptoms go away and then return. 10. People who had a positive PCR test were more likely to report long-term symptoms. One-fifth (19.7%) of adults who had a PCR test had long-term symptoms, while 10.5% of people who had a positive rapid antigen test did and 15.1% of adults who didn’t have a positive test, but suspected they were infected, did. Read: How to help patients with cognitive symptoms of long COVID

Top 10 takeaways from the latest Canadian data on long-COVID

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