Post by Nadica (She/Her) on Jul 10, 2024 23:36:40 GMT
Experiences of Canadians with long-term symptoms following COVID-19 - Published Dec 8, 2023
Overview of the study
Using data from the 2023 Canadian COVID-19 Antibody and Health Survey – Follow-up questionnaire (CCAHS-FQ),Note 1 this article provides updated estimates on COVID-19 infections and reinfections among Canadian adults, and describes the nature of symptoms experienced as a result of infection. Results are compared to those from the Canadian COVID-19 Antibody and Health Survey – Cycle 2 (CCAHS-2), which was conducted in 2022, one year before CCAHS-FQ.Note 2 This article also describes the experiences of Canadians who reported long-term symptoms consistent with post COVID-19 condition or long COVID, including the severity of symptoms, their experiences with the health care system, and the impact on their daily lives. Finally, this article also provides updates of the vaccination status of Canadian adults.
-As of June 2023, about two-thirds of Canadian adults reported at least one confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection, with many reporting more than one infection since the beginning of the pandemic.
-Multiple infections were more commonly reported among certain racialized groups; Black Canadians were most likely to report multiple infections compared to other racialized groups.
-About 3.5 million Canadian adults reported experiencing long-term symptoms following a COVID-19 infection; 2.1 million reported they were still experiencing those symptoms as of June 2023. -Almost half of those still experiencing symptoms reported they have not seen any improvement in symptoms over time.
-Among Canadians who were in school or employed and dealing with long-term symptoms, more than 1 in 5 missed days of school or work, missing 24 days on average.
-About 40% of those with long-term symptoms who sought healthcare about their symptoms reported difficulties with access.
-Adults with chronic conditions and senior adults were more likely to have been vaccinated in the 6 months prior to June 2023.
Introduction
Since it was declared an emergency of international concern in January 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO), COVID-19 has required unprecedented public health action to protect the health of individuals and populations alike.Note 3 In Canada, the pandemic was characterized by waves of infection and subsequent public health measures (including restrictions of in-person activities) with cases becoming more frequent in 2021 and early 2022.Note 4 Initially, the impact of the pandemic was measured by deaths, hospitalizations, and intensive care unit admissions. However, growing population immunity through vaccination and infection, emergence of less virulent variants, and availability of new treatments for acute SARS-CoV-2 infections contributed to the WHO declaring that COVID-19 was no longer an emergency of international concern in May 2023.Note 5
Despite this declaration, COVID-19 continues to cause significant concern for the health of the Canadian population and the wider international community. Accumulating research indicates that COVID-19 is associated with long-term effects on health including the presence of symptoms months or years after the initial infection.Note 6 For some, these long-term symptoms cause significant hardship that affects their health and ability to contribute to society.
To provide initial insights into the burden of long-term symptoms in Canadian adults, the Canadian COVID-19 Antibody and Health Survey Cycle 2 (CCAHS-2) was completed in the summer of 2022. The survey indicated that, as of August 2022, among the approximately 11.8 million Canadian adults that ever had a COVID-19 infection, about 16% experienced long-term symptoms following their infection, and a significant proportion of those affected reported limitations in daily activities and missed time from work or school due to their symptoms.Note 7 These and other results from the CCAHS-2 have helped to improve understanding of COVID-19 infections among Canadians, which is crucial to inform public health policy, economic policy, and respond to the health challenges from COVID-19 as they arise.
To examine the ongoing experiences with and impacts of COVID-19 in Canadian adults more than three years after the start of the pandemic, Statistics Canada, in partnership with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), conducted a follow-up study (CCAHS-FQ) on the respondents of CCAHS-2 in June 2023.
This study uses data from the CCAHS-FQ to describe the current COVID-19 landscape, including infection, reinfection, and acute and long-term symptoms. This study also uses data from both the CCAHS-2 and the CCAHS-FQ to understand how peoples’ experiences with the virus have evolved in the context of growing immunity, emerging variants, new treatments, and relaxation of public health measures. All results presented from these two surveys relate to the adult population, aged 18 years and older, residing in private households in the 10 Canadian provinces.
In this study, long-term symptoms of a COVID-19 infection refer to the presence of symptoms three or more months after a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection that could not be explained by anything else. This definition aligns with the World Health Organization’s post COVID-19 condition case definition, with the exception that the latter requires a symptom duration of at least 2 months. To avoid confusion, this study uses the terminology “long-term symptoms” after COVID-19 infection rather than post COVID-19 condition.
Overview of the study
Using data from the 2023 Canadian COVID-19 Antibody and Health Survey – Follow-up questionnaire (CCAHS-FQ),Note 1 this article provides updated estimates on COVID-19 infections and reinfections among Canadian adults, and describes the nature of symptoms experienced as a result of infection. Results are compared to those from the Canadian COVID-19 Antibody and Health Survey – Cycle 2 (CCAHS-2), which was conducted in 2022, one year before CCAHS-FQ.Note 2 This article also describes the experiences of Canadians who reported long-term symptoms consistent with post COVID-19 condition or long COVID, including the severity of symptoms, their experiences with the health care system, and the impact on their daily lives. Finally, this article also provides updates of the vaccination status of Canadian adults.
-As of June 2023, about two-thirds of Canadian adults reported at least one confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection, with many reporting more than one infection since the beginning of the pandemic.
-Multiple infections were more commonly reported among certain racialized groups; Black Canadians were most likely to report multiple infections compared to other racialized groups.
-About 3.5 million Canadian adults reported experiencing long-term symptoms following a COVID-19 infection; 2.1 million reported they were still experiencing those symptoms as of June 2023. -Almost half of those still experiencing symptoms reported they have not seen any improvement in symptoms over time.
-Among Canadians who were in school or employed and dealing with long-term symptoms, more than 1 in 5 missed days of school or work, missing 24 days on average.
-About 40% of those with long-term symptoms who sought healthcare about their symptoms reported difficulties with access.
-Adults with chronic conditions and senior adults were more likely to have been vaccinated in the 6 months prior to June 2023.
Introduction
Since it was declared an emergency of international concern in January 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO), COVID-19 has required unprecedented public health action to protect the health of individuals and populations alike.Note 3 In Canada, the pandemic was characterized by waves of infection and subsequent public health measures (including restrictions of in-person activities) with cases becoming more frequent in 2021 and early 2022.Note 4 Initially, the impact of the pandemic was measured by deaths, hospitalizations, and intensive care unit admissions. However, growing population immunity through vaccination and infection, emergence of less virulent variants, and availability of new treatments for acute SARS-CoV-2 infections contributed to the WHO declaring that COVID-19 was no longer an emergency of international concern in May 2023.Note 5
Despite this declaration, COVID-19 continues to cause significant concern for the health of the Canadian population and the wider international community. Accumulating research indicates that COVID-19 is associated with long-term effects on health including the presence of symptoms months or years after the initial infection.Note 6 For some, these long-term symptoms cause significant hardship that affects their health and ability to contribute to society.
To provide initial insights into the burden of long-term symptoms in Canadian adults, the Canadian COVID-19 Antibody and Health Survey Cycle 2 (CCAHS-2) was completed in the summer of 2022. The survey indicated that, as of August 2022, among the approximately 11.8 million Canadian adults that ever had a COVID-19 infection, about 16% experienced long-term symptoms following their infection, and a significant proportion of those affected reported limitations in daily activities and missed time from work or school due to their symptoms.Note 7 These and other results from the CCAHS-2 have helped to improve understanding of COVID-19 infections among Canadians, which is crucial to inform public health policy, economic policy, and respond to the health challenges from COVID-19 as they arise.
To examine the ongoing experiences with and impacts of COVID-19 in Canadian adults more than three years after the start of the pandemic, Statistics Canada, in partnership with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), conducted a follow-up study (CCAHS-FQ) on the respondents of CCAHS-2 in June 2023.
This study uses data from the CCAHS-FQ to describe the current COVID-19 landscape, including infection, reinfection, and acute and long-term symptoms. This study also uses data from both the CCAHS-2 and the CCAHS-FQ to understand how peoples’ experiences with the virus have evolved in the context of growing immunity, emerging variants, new treatments, and relaxation of public health measures. All results presented from these two surveys relate to the adult population, aged 18 years and older, residing in private households in the 10 Canadian provinces.
In this study, long-term symptoms of a COVID-19 infection refer to the presence of symptoms three or more months after a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection that could not be explained by anything else. This definition aligns with the World Health Organization’s post COVID-19 condition case definition, with the exception that the latter requires a symptom duration of at least 2 months. To avoid confusion, this study uses the terminology “long-term symptoms” after COVID-19 infection rather than post COVID-19 condition.