6.X.1. Disentangling Long-COVID: prevalence, risk factors and impact

Abstract Background Prolonged symptoms after the acute SARS-COV2 infection significantly alter daily functioning and work ability for substantial number of people. Application of different long COVID definitions result in variable prevalence estimations, while aetiology of long COVID as well as its impact is insufficiently understood. Our workshop is set to discuss the public health impact of long COVID in the general population, to identify risk factors of developing long COVID, and stimulate dialog to advance adequate health care and public health actions aimed to reduce the impact of this condition. Objectives and Key Questions The overall objective is to discuss the public health impact as well as geographic variations across Europe in long COVID prevalence, major risk factors for long COVID and impact on work capacity, accounting for different population-based and hospital study settings. Specifically, the workshop will address the following key questions: 1) what are the challenges in estimating prevalence of long COVID? 2) what are the risk factors of long COVID and some of the most vulnerable population groups? 3) what is a distribution of long COVID in Europe? 4) what is the impact of long COVID on work ability? Brief Overview The workshop will include 3 presentations (in combined total duration of 12 min) on challenges for research and practice attributable to variability in defining long COVID, prevalence of long COVID across several European countries, risks factors of long COVID and impact on work ability. Active discussion of 13 min will conclude the session. Key messages • Standardized definitions, such as WHO-PCC definition with severity thresholds would facilitate surveillance of long COVID and advance knowledge on the risk factors related to this condition. • Understanding better the risk factors and impact of long COVID will inform more adequate screening and therapeutic strategies, and possibly anticipate effects of potential new infectious threats.