BMJ Open (Nov 2022)

Prevalence, pathophysiology, prediction and health-related quality of life of long COVID: study protocol of the longitudinal multiple cohort CORona Follow Up (CORFU) study

  • Erwin Birnie,
  • Jochen W L Cals,
  • Folkert W Asselbergs,
  • Kevin Vernooy,
  • Iwan C C van der Horst,
  • Frederikus A Klok,
  • Martijn D de Kruif,
  • Hugo ten Cate,
  • Chahinda Ghossein-Doha,
  • Susanne van Santen,
  • Bas C T van Bussel,
  • Sander M J van Kuijk,
  • Gouke J Bonsel,
  • Juanita Haagsma,
  • Marijke Linschoten,
  • Bena Hemmen,
  • Marieke S J N Wintjens,
  • Emma B N J Janssen,
  • Dorthe Klein,
  • Stella C M Heemskerk,
  • Bastiaan L J H Kietselaer,
  • Loes H Willems,
  • Rosa Westerborg,
  • Michiel Warle

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-065142
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 11

Abstract

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Introduction The variety, time patterns and long-term prognosis of persistent COVID-19 symptoms (long COVID-19) in patients who suffered from mild to severe acute COVID-19 are incompletely understood. Cohort studies will be combined to describe the prevalence of long COVID-19 symptoms, and to explore the pathophysiological mechanisms and impact on health-related quality of life. A prediction model for long COVID-19 will be developed and internally validated to guide care in future patients.Methods and analysis Data from seven COVID-19 cohorts will be aggregated in the longitudinal multiple cohort CORona Follow Up (CORFU) study. CORFU includes Dutch patients who suffered from COVID-19 at home, were hospitalised without or with intensive care unit treatment, needed inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation and controls who did not suffer from COVID-19. Individual cohort study designs were aligned and follow-up has been synchronised. Cohort participants will be followed up for a maximum of 24 months after acute infection. Next to the clinical characteristics measured in individual cohorts, the CORFU questionnaire on long COVID-19 outcomes and determinants will be administered digitally at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after the infection. The primary outcome is the prevalence of long COVID-19 symptoms up to 2 years after acute infection. Secondary outcomes are health-related quality of life (eg, EQ-5D), physical functioning, and the prevalence of thromboembolic complications, respiratory complications, cardiovascular diseases and endothelial dysfunction. A prediction model and a patient platform prototype will be developed.Ethics and dissemination Approval was obtained from the medical research ethics committee of Maastricht University Medical Center+ and Maastricht University (METC 2021-2990) and local committees of the participating cohorts. The project is supported by ZonMW and EuroQol Research Foundation. Results will be published in open access peer-reviewed scientific journals and presented at (inter)national conferences.Trial registration number NCT05240742.