Post-COVID recovery is faster after an infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant: a population-based cohort study

Post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) poses a substantial burden to affected individuals, health care systems, and society as a whole. We examined factors associated with recovery from PCC, focusing on the vaccination status prior to infection and the virus variant.

Our analyses are based on the population-based cohort study for digital health research in Germany (DigiHero). Respondents who reported a SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-related symptoms ≥ 12 weeks post-infection were classified as having PCC. Those with ongoing PCC were followed-up in six-month intervals based on their date of infection. We used a Cox model for interval-censored data to analyze PCC recovery.

Among the 4,529 respondents with PCC included in our analyses, about 26%, 19%, 36%, and 44% of those infected during dominance of the SARS-CoV-2 wildtype, Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variant had recovered one year after infection, respectively. When stratifying by virus variant, vaccination was not associated with a faster recovery. Conversely, those infected with Omicron (HR = 2.20; 95%CI: 1.96-2.48) or Delta (HR = 1.69; 95%CI: 1.43-2.01) recovered faster than those infected with the SARS-CoV-2 wildtype or Alpha strain.

Although the recovery from PCC is faster for the newer virus variants, still a substantial fraction of those who developed PCC after an infection with the Omicron variant report prolonged persistence of symptoms.