Presence of post-COVID-19 condition in six ethnic groups in Amsterdam, the Netherlands: a retrospectively reconstructed time interval approach.

Abstract

In this retrospective cohort study, we assessed the prevalence of post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) and its determinants among six ethnic groups in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. We analysed data from participants of the HELIUS cohort with SARS-CoV-2 infection who answered questions on the presence and duration of COVID-19-related symptoms between May and November 2022. We estimated the prevalence of PCC, defined as having ≥1 of 15 pre-determined COVID-19-related symptoms remaining for at least 3 months after infection, by ethnicity at several timepoints since infection adjusted for age and sex, and assessed determinants of PCC overall using logistic regression. Of 932 infected participants, 31% [95% confidence interval (95%CI): 27%-37%] developed PCC. At 3 months after infection the adjusted prevalence of PCC varied from 17% (95%CI: 13%-24%) in the Dutch-origin group to 41% (95%CI: 34%-48%) in the South-Asian Surinamese group, and was significantly higher among participants of South-Asian Surinamese, Turkish and Moroccan origin compared to those of Dutch origin (all P < 0.001). Participants who were of South-Asian Surinamese origin, older, female, without a vocational education or university degree, or obese were more likely to have PCC. Those of Ghanaian origin or infected during the period of Omicron predominance were less likely to have PCC. There were clear between-ethnic differences in the prevalence of PCC, which was more common in individuals of South-Asian Surinamese, Turkish, and Moroccan origin compared to those of Dutch origin. These differences mirror ethnic differences in SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease severity. Certain factors of PCC emerged, while consistent across ethnic groups.