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BMC Medicine
Published in: BMC Medicine 1/2023

Open Access 01-12-2023 | Influenza | Research article

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

Authors: Ting-Hui Liu, Po-Yu Huang, Jheng-Yan Wu, Min-Hsiang Chuang, Wan-Hsuan Hsu, Ya-Wen Tsai, Chih-Cheng Lai

Published in: BMC Medicine | Issue 1/2023

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Abstract

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.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Comparison of post-acute sequelae following hospitalization for COVID-19 and influenza
Authors
Ting-Hui Liu
Po-Yu Huang
Jheng-Yan Wu
Min-Hsiang Chuang
Wan-Hsuan Hsu
Ya-Wen Tsai
Chih-Cheng Lai
Publication date
01-12-2023
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Medicine / Issue 1/2023
Electronic ISSN: 1741-7015
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-023-03200-2

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