Prevalence and predictors of post-COVID-19-related symptoms: an extended follow-up among employees in health and welfare services in Germany: a short report.

Objective: To describe persistent symptoms after a work-related COVID-19 infection in health and welfare workers and the identification of predictors of these symptoms. Methods: This short report summarises updated results on a bidirectional cohort study of employees in the health and welfare services who had reported a work-related SARS-CoV-2 infection in 2020. Participants were interviewed for the fourth time (T4) in April 2023 using a paper-and-pencil questionnaire. In this extended follow-up study (total prospective follow-up time: 26 months, maximum observation time 32 months), questions were asked about the type and severity of persistent symptoms. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to visualize cumulative survival rates, and Cox regression was used to identify predictors. Results: Of the 2,053 participants in the baseline study (response rate: 47%), 1,075 people took part in the 4 Conclusion: Minimal further recovery was observed in this cohort of insured persons after a 26-month prospective follow-up. Identified risk factors for persistent symptoms, i.e. female gender, older age, severe acute symptoms, and pre-existing illnesses, define a high-risk group of individuals, who should receive sufficient attention in the early phase of their COVID-19 disease and receive appropriate therapy to minimize the risk of post-COVID-19 syndrome.