Characterizing Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection across Claims and Electronic Health Record Databases

Abstract

Structured Abstract Importance: Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) is emerging as a major public health issue. Objective: We characterized the incidence of PASC, or related symptoms and diagnoses, for COVID-19 and influenza patients. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Our data sources were the IBM MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters (CCAE), Optum Electronic Health Record (EHR) and Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) databases that were transformed to the Observational Medical Outcome Partnership (OMOP) Common Data Model (CDM) and were part of the Observational Health Sciences and Informatics (OHDSI) network. Participants: The COVID-19 cohort consisted of patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19 or positive lab test of SARS-CoV-2 after January 1st 2020 with a follow up period of at least 30 days. The influenza cohort consisted of patients with a diagnosis of influenza between October 1, 2018 and May 1, 2019 with a follow up period of at least 30 days. Intervention: Infection with COVID-19 or influenza. Main Outcomes and Measures: Post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), or related diagnoses, for COVID-19 and influenza patients. Results: In aggregate, we characterized the post-acute experience for over 440,000 patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19 or tested positive for SARS-COV-2. The long term sequelae that had a higher incidence in the COVID-19 compared to Influenza cohorts were altered smell or taste, myocarditis, acute kidney injury, dyspnea and alopecia. Additionally, the long term incidences of respiratory illness, musculoskeletal disease, and psychiatric disorders for the COVID-19 population were higher than expected. Conclusions and Relevance: The long term sequelae of COVID-19 and influenza may be different. Further characterization of PASC on large scale observational healthcare databases is warranted.