Understanding symptoms suggestive of long COVID syndrome and healthcare use among community-based populations in Manitoba, Canada: an observational cross-sectional survey

Leanne Kosowan; Diana C Sanchez-Ramirez; Alan Katz

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2023-075301

Understanding symptoms suggestive of long COVID syndrome and healthcare use among community-based populations in Manitoba, Canada: an observational cross-sectional survey

BMJ Open. 2024 Jan 12;14(1):e075301. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-075301.

Authors

Leanne Kosowan¹, Diana C Sanchez-Ramirez², Alan Katz^{3

4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Family Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Leanne.kosowan@umanitoba.ca.
² Department of Respiratory Therapy, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
³ Department of Family Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
⁴ Community Health Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
⁵ Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to characterise respondents who have COVID-19 and long COVID syndrome (LCS), and describe their symptoms and healthcare utilisation.

Design: Observational cross-sectional survey.

Setting: The one-time online survey was available from June 2022 to November 2022 to capture the experience of residents in Manitoba, Canada.

Participant: Individuals shared their experience with COVID-19 including their COVID-19 symptoms, symptoms suggestive of LCS and healthcare utilisation. We used descriptive statistics to characterise patients with COVID-19, describe symptoms suggestive of LCS and explore respondent health system use based on presenting symptoms.

Results: There were 654 Manitobans who responded to our survey, 616 (94.2%) of whom had or provided care to someone who had COVID-19, and 334 (54.2%) reported symptoms lasting 3 or more months. On average, respondents reported having 10 symptoms suggestive of LCS, with the most common being extreme fatigue (79.6%), issues with concentration, thinking and memory (76.6%), shortness of breath with activity (65.3%) and headaches (64.1%). Half of the respondents (49.2%) did not seek healthcare for COVID-19 or LCS. Primary care was sought by 66.2% respondents with symptoms suggestive of LCS, 15.2% visited an emergency department and 32.0% obtained care from a specialist or therapist. 62.6% of respondents with symptoms suggestive of LCS reported reducing work, school or other activities which demonstrate its impact on physical function and health-related quality of life.

Conclusion: Consistent with the literature, there are a variety of symptoms experienced among individuals with COVID-19 and LCS. Healthcare providers face challenge in providing care for patients with a wide range of symptoms unlikely to respond to a single intervention. These findings support the value of interdisciplinary COVID-19 clinics due to the complexity of the syndrome. This study confirms that data collected from the healthcare system do not provide a comprehensive reflection of LCS.

Keywords: COVID-19; Primary Health Care; Public health.

Publication types

Observational Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / epidemiology
Canada
Cross-Sectional Studies
Delivery of Health Care
Humans
Manitoba / epidemiology
Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
Quality of Life