tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Front Public Health
. 2026 Aug 4:14:1771458.
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1771458. eCollection 2026.
Analysis of epidemiological characteristics and influencing factors of Long COVID syndrome among university students in the post-pandemic era
Songqing Guo[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mingma Li[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yuxiang Liu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yi Zhang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yuchen Pan[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Xinru Wang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hongqiao Li[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Xiangjun Zhai[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Xiang Hong[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Bei Wang[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of Long COVID syndrome in university students during the post-pandemic era, providing evidence for developing prevention strategies and rehabilitation plans for COVID-19 patients.
Methods: A cohort study was conducted in November 2023, recruiting students from a university in Nanjing for baseline investigations. Demographic characteristics, vaccination history, infection history, and venous blood samples were collected to detect SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM antibody levels. For individuals with prior COVID-19 infections, Long COVID syndrome status was assessed 1 year post-infection. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to identify influencing factors.
Results: The study included 246 participants (mean age: 21.88 ± 2.06 years; 65.04% female). Median SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM levels were 16.500 (105.000, 239.000) AU/ml and 0.095 (0.053, 0.183) AU/ml, respectively. Among 246 participants with prior COVID-19 infection, 82 (33.33%) developed Long COVID syndrome, with alopecia (36.59%), memory decline (28.05%), and sleep disturbances (28.05%) being the most prevalent symptoms. Multivariate analysis revealed that, compared to the non-Long COVID group, depressive symptoms may be positively associated with Long COVID syndrome (adjusted OR = 8.235, 95%CI: 3.478-19.500).
Conclusion: The incidence of Long COVID syndrome among university students is comparable to that of the general population. A bidirectional relationship may exist between depressive symptoms and Long COVID syndrome, warranting increased clinical and public health attention.
Keywords: Long COVID syndrome; cohort study; influencing factors analysis; post-pandemic era; university student population.
. 2026 Aug 4:14:1771458.
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1771458. eCollection 2026.
Analysis of epidemiological characteristics and influencing factors of Long COVID syndrome among university students in the post-pandemic era
Songqing Guo[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mingma Li[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yuxiang Liu[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yi Zhang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yuchen Pan[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Xinru Wang[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hongqiao Li[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Xiangjun Zhai[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Xiang Hong[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Bei Wang[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 42614493
- PMCID: PMC13481728
- DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1771458
Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of Long COVID syndrome in university students during the post-pandemic era, providing evidence for developing prevention strategies and rehabilitation plans for COVID-19 patients.
Methods: A cohort study was conducted in November 2023, recruiting students from a university in Nanjing for baseline investigations. Demographic characteristics, vaccination history, infection history, and venous blood samples were collected to detect SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM antibody levels. For individuals with prior COVID-19 infections, Long COVID syndrome status was assessed 1 year post-infection. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to identify influencing factors.
Results: The study included 246 participants (mean age: 21.88 ± 2.06 years; 65.04% female). Median SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM levels were 16.500 (105.000, 239.000) AU/ml and 0.095 (0.053, 0.183) AU/ml, respectively. Among 246 participants with prior COVID-19 infection, 82 (33.33%) developed Long COVID syndrome, with alopecia (36.59%), memory decline (28.05%), and sleep disturbances (28.05%) being the most prevalent symptoms. Multivariate analysis revealed that, compared to the non-Long COVID group, depressive symptoms may be positively associated with Long COVID syndrome (adjusted OR = 8.235, 95%CI: 3.478-19.500).
Conclusion: The incidence of Long COVID syndrome among university students is comparable to that of the general population. A bidirectional relationship may exist between depressive symptoms and Long COVID syndrome, warranting increased clinical and public health attention.
Keywords: Long COVID syndrome; cohort study; influencing factors analysis; post-pandemic era; university student population.