What the study found
The study found no significant difference in long-term self-rated physical health or work-related functioning between people who tested positive for COVID-19 and people with similar respiratory symptoms who tested negative. Mental health scores were slightly higher in the non-COVID-19 group after adjustment for working status.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that the long-term impact of COVID-19 on self-rated physical health and work-related functioning appears comparable to the impact of other viral respiratory illnesses with similar acute symptoms. The study suggests the need for comprehensive rehabilitation strategies focused on symptom management regardless of the specific viral cause.
What the researchers tested
The researchers conducted a questionnaire study about two years after patients were tested for COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic in Denmark. They used validated questionnaires for self-assessed health status (SF-12, a general health survey) and work-related functional ability (WORQ), and compared answers between PCR-positive and PCR-negative participants.
What worked and what didn't
A total of 463 participants responded, which was a 17% response rate. After adjusting for relevant confounders, there were no significant differences between PCR-positive and PCR-negative participants in work-related functional ability or self-assessed physical health; mental health was slightly higher in the PCR-negative group (49.3 vs. 47.5, p < 0.009) after adjustment for working status.
What to keep in mind
The study relies on self-reported questionnaire data collected about two years after testing. The response rate was low at 17%, and the abstract does not describe additional limitations beyond this.
Key points
- The study compared long-term outcomes in PCR-positive and PCR-negative patients with similar respiratory symptoms.
- No significant differences were found in work-related functional ability or self-assessed physical health after adjustment.
- Mental health scores were slightly higher in the non-COVID-19 group after adjustment for working status.
- The study used SF-12 and WORQ questionnaires about two years after testing.
- The response rate was 17% among 463 participants.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- COVID-19 and non-COVID respiratory infections showed similar long-term health effects
- Authors:
- Astrid Rosenberg Eskildsen, Tanja K. Carøe, Ole Steen Mortensen
- Institutions:
- Holbæk Sygehus, Holbæk Sygehus, Queen Astrid Military Hospital, University of Copenhagen
- Publication date:
- 2026-02-23
- OpenAlex record:
- View
- Image credit:
- Alexey Solodovnikov (Idea, Producer, CG, Editor), Valeria Arkhipova (Scientific Сonsultant), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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