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A population-based Canadian study found SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with subsequent new diagnoses of certain self-reported health conditions among adults. Compared with adults reporting no infections, those reporting 2 or more bouts of COVID-19 had 76% greater adjusted odds of receiving a new health diagnosis overall (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=1.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12–2.76), including newly diagnosed respiratory conditions (aOR=5.03) and back problems (aOR=3.79), as published in Canada Communicable Disease Report. The study grouped asthma and chronic lung conditions under the category of newly diagnosed “respiratory conditions.” It did not provide a more detailed breakdown of the respiratory or the “back problems” categories, however. Those reporting symptoms persisting for at least 3 months had more than 3 times the odds of a new diagnosis (aOR=3.35), as well as increased odds of hypertension.
More visits for care: The authors conclude that repeated SARS-CoV-2 infections may potentially increase the likelihood of subsequently diagnosed health conditions. However, they caution that greater healthcare use among symptomatic patients could simply be increasing opportunities to identify previously undiagnosed conditions.