LAUSR

The frequency, severity, and forms of symptoms months after coronavirus 2019 (COVID‐19) are poorly understood, especially in community settings. To better understand and characterize symptoms months after community‐based COVID‐19, a retrospective cohort analysis was conducted. Three hundred and twenty‐eight consecutive persons with a positive test for SARS‐CoV‐2 in the Johns Hopkins Health System, Maryland, March−May 2020, were selected for the study. Symptom occurrence and severity were measured through questionnaires. Of 328 persons evaluated, a median of 242 days (109−478 days) from the initial positive SARS‐CoV‐2 test, 33.2% reported not being fully recovered and 4.9% reported symptoms that constrained daily activities. Compared to those who reported being fully recovered, those with post‐acute sequelae were more likely to report a prior history of heart attack (p < 0.01). Among those reporting long‐term symptoms, men and women were equally represented (men = 34.8%, women = 34.6%), but only women reported symptoms that constrained daily activities, and 56% of them were caregivers. The types of new or persistent symptoms varied, and for many, included a deviation from prior COVID‐19 health, such as being less able to exercise, walk, concentrate, or breathe. A limitation is that self‐report of symptoms might be biased and/or caused by factors other than COVID‐19. Overall, even in a community setting, symptoms may persist months after COVID‐19 reducing daily activities including caring for dependents.