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Long-Term Consequences of Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Yirui Ma

    (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Jie Deng

    (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Qiao Liu

    (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China)

  • Min Du

    (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China)

  • Min Liu

    (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China)

  • Jue Liu

    (Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
    Institute for Global Health and Development, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China)

Abstract

Little is known about the long-term consequences of asymptomatic infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We aimed to review the data available to explore the long-term consequences of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in the real world. We searched observational cohort studies that described the long-term health effects of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections. Random-effects inverse-variance models were used to evaluate the pooled prevalence (PP) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) of long-term symptoms. Random effects were used to estimate the pooled odds ratios (OR) and its 95%CI of different long-term symptoms between symptomatic and asymptomatic infections. Five studies involving a total of 1643 cases, including 597 cases of asymptomatic and 1043 cases of symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection were included in this meta-analysis. The PPs of long-term consequences after asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections were 17.13% (95%CI, 7.55–26.71%) for at least one symptom, 15.09% (95%CI, 5.46–24.73%) for loss of taste, 14.14% (95%CI, −1.32–29.61%) for loss of smell, and 9.33% (95%CI, 3.07–15.60) for fatigue. Compared with symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, asymptomatic infection was associated with a significantly lower risk of developing COVID-19-related sequelae ( p < 0.05), with 80% lower risk of developing at least one symptom (OR = 0.20, 95%CI, 0.09–0.45), 81% lower risk of fatigue (OR = 0.19, 95%CI, 0.08–0.49), 90% lower risk of loss of taste/smell (OR = 0.10, 95%CI, 0.02–0.58). Our results suggested that there were long-term effects of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, such as loss of taste or smell, fatigue, cough and so on. However, the risk of developing long-term symptoms in asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infected persons was significantly lower than those in symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection cases.

Suggested Citation

  • Yirui Ma & Jie Deng & Qiao Liu & Min Du & Min Liu & Jue Liu, 2023. "Long-Term Consequences of Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-13, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:2:p:1613-:d:1037279
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Yirui Ma & Jie Deng & Qiao Liu & Min Du & Min Liu & Jue Liu, 2022. "Long-Term Consequences of COVID-19 at 6 Months and Above: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-16, June.
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    1. Jiyeon Oh & Myeongcheol Lee & Minji Kim & Hyeon Jin Kim & Seung Won Lee & Sang Youl Rhee & Ai Koyanagi & Lee Smith & Min Seo Kim & Hayeon Lee & Jinseok Lee & Dong Keon Yon, 2024. "Incident allergic diseases in post-COVID-19 condition: multinational cohort studies from South Korea, Japan and the UK," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.

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