None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This study aims to understand how Long-COVID affects adults in Australia over time. Participants will be followed for up to 36 months after COVID-19 infection to assess changes in symptoms, functional ability, quality of life, social and broader psychosocial, behavioural and financial impacts using validated tools. The study will also examine factors associated with persistent symptoms and recovery. The findings will contribute to improved understanding of Long-COVID trajectories and may inform policy, clinical guidelines, and the development of care models for Long-COVID.
Interventions
Participants in this study will not undergo any laboratory tests, physical assessments or treatment. Participants will be recruited through three sites: RMIT University, Northern Health (primarily Victorian Virtual Emergency Department), and Hands on Health Australia.
Participation involves completing self-reported questionnaires, with researchers contacting participants by phone for an initial discussion to explain the study and obtain consent.
Where participants provide consent, data may a
Participants in this study will not undergo any laboratory tests, physical assessments or treatment. Participants will be recruited through three sites: RMIT University, Northern Health (primarily Victorian Virtual Emergency Department), and Hands on Health Australia. Participation involves completing self-reported questionnaires, with researchers contacting participants by phone for an initial discussion to explain the study and obtain consent. Where participants provide consent, data may also be linked to national datasets, including the Medicare Benefits Schedule, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, Australian Immunisation Register and hospital datasets, via the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Participants will complete a set of questionnaires (online, telephone or in-person) at baseline and every three to six months for up to 36 months. Each survey takes around 30–60 minutes. Validated questionnaires include the C19-YRSm, EQ-5D-5L, F-SozU K-3 Social support scale, UCLA loneliness scale (LS) 3, MALMO POTS Score (MAPS), FACIT-Fatigue, IPAQ-SF, Mini-EAT, and SSCI-8. Throughout the study, we will also observe self-reported information on COVID-19 reinfections, hospitalisations, Emergency Department presentations, treatments received, vaccination history, social connectedness, lifestyle behaviours, functional capacity, psychological wellbeing, quality of life, relationships, employment and education impacts, healthcare utilisation, interactions with healthcare professionals, and the support participants receive or require. Participants may also provide wearable activity data where relevant. Recruitment will target individuals at three different stages following COVID-19 infection: the subacute stage (1–3 months post-COVID), the Long-COVID stage (3–12 months post-COVID), and the persistent Long-COVID stage (over 12 months post-COVID).
Sponsors
RMIT University
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1) 18 years old and above. 2) living in Australia with plans to remain for at least the next two years, and with no restriction on ethnic or cultural background or English proficiency. 3) A history of COVID-19 infection (PCR or RAT positive) or being a close contact of a confirmed case and developing COVID-like symptoms themselves at the same time, with ongoing symptoms that cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis.
Exclusion criteria
1) Critically ill and currently requiring intensive care. 2) Individuals unable to autonomously provide informed consent.
Outcome results
None listed