Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

July 24, 2020

Symptom Duration and Risk Factors for Delayed Return to Usual Health Among Outpatients with COVID-19 in a Multistate Health Care Systems Network — United States, March–June 2020

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  • A telephone survey of non-hospitalized symptomatic COVID-19 patients found that illness can be prolonged, even among young adults without underlying chronic medical conditions. Among 274 symptomatic COVID-19 patients interviewed 14-21 days after diagnosis, 65% percent had returned to their usual state of health a median of 7 days (IQR 5-12 days) after testing, while the 35% had not yet returned to their usual state of health. Older age and presence of chronic medical conditions were associated with a higher risk of not having returned to normal health. Among those with no chronic medical conditions and in the youngest age group (18-34 years), 19% had not returned to normal health by 14-21 days after diagnosis.  

Tenforde et al. (July 24, 2020). Symptom Duration and Risk Factors for Delayed Return to Usual Health Among Outpatients with COVID-19 in a Multistate Health Care Systems Network — United States, March–June 2020. MMWR. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6930e1