Long-term sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 two years following infection: exploring the interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors.

Background: Severe fatigue and cognitive complaints are frequently reported after SARS-CoV-2 infection and may be accompanied by depressive symptoms and/or limitations in physical functioning. The long-term sequelae of COVID-19 may be influenced by biomedical, psychological, and social factors, the interplay of which is largely understudied over time. We aimed to investigate how the interplay of these factors contribute to the persistence of symptoms after COVID-19.

Neuropsychological functioning after COVID-19: minor differences between individuals with and without persistent complaints after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

It is unclear how self-reported severe fatigue and difficulty concentrating after SARS-CoV-2 infection relate to objective neuropsychological functioning. The study aimed to compare neuropsychological functioning between individuals with and without these persistent subjective complaints. : Individuals with and without persistent severe fatigue (Checklist Individual Strength (CIS) fatigue ≥ 35) and difficulty concentrating (CIS concentration ≥ 18) at least 3 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection were included.

Inflammatory profiles are associated with long COVID up to 6 months after COVID-19 onset: A prospective cohort study of individuals with mild to critical COVID-19.

Background: After initial COVID-19, immune dysregulation may persist and drive post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). We described longitudinal trajectories of cytokines in adults up to 6 months following SARS-CoV-2 infection and explored early predictors of PASC.

Methods: RECoVERED is a prospective cohort of individuals with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between May 2020 and June 2021 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Aberrant neutrophil degranulation in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 partially remains for 6 months.

Neutrophils are important players in COVID-19, contributing to tissue damage by release of inflammatory mediators, including ROS and neutrophil elastase. Longitudinal studies on the effects of COVID-19 on neutrophil phenotype and function are scarce. Here, we longitudinally investigated the phenotype and degranulation of neutrophils in COVID-19 patients (28 nonhospitalized and 35 hospitalized patients) compared with 17 healthy donors (HDs).

Mental health up to 12 months following SARS-CoV-2 infection: A prospective cohort study.

Objective: To investigate to what extent individuals report clinically relevant levels of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and concentration problems up to 12 months following COVID-19 symptom onset, using validated questionnaires.

Methods: RECoVERED, a prospective cohort study in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, enrolled both hospitalized and community-dwelling adult participants diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 1, 3, 6 and 12 months following illness onset.

Two-year trajectories of COVID-19 symptoms and their association with illness perception: A prospective cohort study in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Background: We used data from a prospective cohort to explore 2-year trajectories of 'long COVID' (persistent symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection) and their association with illness perception.

Methods: RECoVERED participants (adults; prospectively enrolled following laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, May 2020-June 2021) completed symptom questionnaires at months 2-12, 18 and 24, and the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (B-IPQ) at months 1, 6 and 12. Using group-based trajectory models (GBTM), we modelled symptoms (mean total numbers and proportion with four specific complaints), including age, sex, BMI and timing of infection as covariates.

One-fourth of COVID-19 patients have an impaired pulmonary function after 12 months of disease onset.

Background: There is increasing data that show a persistently impaired pulmonary function upon recovery after severe infection. Little is known however about the extent, recovery and determinants of pulmonary impairment across the full spectrum of COVID-19 severity over time.

Methods: In a well characterized, prospective cohort of both hospitalised and non-hospitalised individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection, the RECoVERED study, pulmonary function (diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO)) and spirometry) was measured until one year after disease onset.

Neurobiological basis and risk factors of persistent fatigue and concentration problems after COVID-19: study protocol for a prospective case-control study (VeCosCO).

Introduction: The risk factors for persistent fatigue and cognitive complaints after infection with SARS-CoV-2 and the underlying pathophysiology are largely unknown. Both clinical factors and cognitive-behavioural factors have been suggested to play a role in the perpetuation of complaints. A neurobiological aetiology, such as neuroinflammation, could be the underlying pathophysiological mechanism for persisting complaints.

Body image and treatment desires at clinical entry in non-binary and genderqueer adults.

Gender clinics are experiencing an increase in non-binary and/or genderqueer (NBGQ) individuals applying for gender affirming medical treatment (GAMT). GAMT is a well-established approach in reducing body dissatisfaction in binary transgender (BT) people, but knowledge on GAMT in NBGQ people is limited. Previous research shows that NBGQ individuals report different treatment needs compared to BT individuals.

Body Image in Adolescents with Gender Incongruence and Its Association with Psychological Functioning.

During adolescence, many individuals with gender incongruence (GI) experience distress related to body dissatisfaction. This study aims to describe the body (dis)satisfaction of Dutch adolescents referred for GI and to describe the influence of body image on their psychological functioning. Self-report measures on body satisfaction (Body Image Scale) and psychological functioning (Youth Self-Report) were obtained from 787 adolescents (aged 10-18) who were referred to the Center of Expertise on Gender Dysphoria at the Amsterdam University Medical Centers between 1996 and 2016.

Health-related quality of life among persons with initial mild, moderate, and severe or critical COVID-19 at 1 and 12 months after infection: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Currently, there is limited evidence about the long-term impact on physical, social and emotional functioning, i.e. health-related quality of life (HRQL) after mild or moderate COVID-19 not requiring hospitalization.

The effect of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC): A prospective cohort study.

Background: Symptoms of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) may improve following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. However few prospective data that also explore the underlying biological mechanism are available. We assessed the effect of vaccination on symptomatology of participants with PASC, and compared antibody dynamics between those with and without PASC.

Differences in self-perception and social gender status in children with gender incongruence.

Gender incongruent children report lower self-perception compared to the norm population. This study explored differences in self-perception between children living in their gender role assigned at birth and children living in their experienced gender role. The self-perception questionnaire was administered to 312 children referred to the Center of Expertise on Gender Dysphoria 'Amsterdam UMC'.

Severe Fatigue in the First Year Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Severe fatigue can persist for months after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) onset. This longitudinal study describes fatigue severity and its determinants up to 12 months after illness onset across the full spectrum of COVID-19 severity.

Methods: RECoVERED, a prospective cohort study in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, enrolled participants aged ≥16 years after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) diagnosis.

A single mRNA vaccine dose in COVID-19 patients boosts neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and variants of concern.

The urgent need for, but limited availability of, SARS-CoV-2 vaccines worldwide has led to widespread consideration of dose-sparing strategies. Here, we evaluate the SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody responses following BNT162b2 vaccination in 150 previously SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals from a population-based cohort. One week after first vaccine dose, spike protein antibody levels are 27-fold higher and neutralizing antibody titers 12-fold higher, exceeding titers of fully vaccinated SARS-CoV-2-naive controls, with minimal additional boosting after the second dose.

Body image in children with gender incongruence.

Background: In the DSM-5 diagnosis of childhood Gender Dysphoria, two of the eight criteria focus on body satisfaction of the child. Nevertheless, this subject is understudied. This study aims to describe the body image of children with gender incongruence (GI) in relation to birth assigned sex and the intensity of GI.