Comparison of post-acute sequelae following hospitalization for COVID-19 and influenza

BACKGROUND: Few studies have directly compared the risk and magnitude of post-acute sequelae following COVID-19 and influenza, and most of these studies were conducted before emergence of the Omicron.

This study investigated the prevalence of post-COVID conditions and the long-term risk of emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, and deaths in patients with COVID-19 and compared their risk with that of patients with influenza.

METHODS: A retrospective study based on the TriNetX databases, a global health research network.

We identified patients with COVID-19 and influenza who required hospitalization between January 1, 2022, and January 1, 2023.

We compared the risk of developing any post-COVID conditions between the two groups and also analyzed each post-COVID-19 condition and all-cause ED visits, hospitalizations, and deaths in both populations during the follow-up 90–180 days.

RESULTS: Before matching, 7,187 patients with COVID-19 were older (63.9 ± 16.7 vs. 55.4 ± 21.2) and were predominantly male (54.0% vs. 45.4%), and overweight/obese (16.1% vs. 11.2%) than 11,266 individuals with influenza.

After propensity score matching, 6,614 patients were identified in each group, resulting in well-balanced baseline characteristics.

During follow-up, the COVID-19 group had a higher incidence of any post-COVID-19 condition when compared with the influenza group (17.9% vs. 13.0%), with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.398 (95% CI, 1.251–1.562).

Compared to the influenza group, the COVID-19 group had a significantly higher incidence of abnormal breathing (HR, 1.506; 95% CI, 1.246–1.822), abdominal symptoms (HR, 1.313; HR, 1.034–1.664), fatigue (HR, 1.486; 95% CI, 1.158–1.907), and cognitive symptoms (HR, 1.815; 95% CI, 1.235–2.668).

Moreover, the COVID-19 group had a significantly higher risk of the composite outcomes during all-cause ED visits, hospitalizations, and deaths when compared with the influenza group (27.5% vs. 21.7; HR, 1.303; 95% CI, 1.194–1.422).

CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that hospitalized COVID-19 patients are at a higher risk of long-term complications when compared with influenza survivors.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12916-023-03200-2.