In a Korean COVID-19 cohort, identified more long COVID cases than the stricter .
Evidence
This prospective single-center cohort followed 183 adults with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in Seoul for up to 12 months and compared long COVID classification by PASC index and NASEM criteria.
Caveat
The study was limited to one tertiary hospital cohort, and it compared symptom-based definitions rather than testing clinical outcomes from either classification.
Simplified
BACKGROUND: To compare the post-acute sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection (PASC) index and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) criteria in identifying long coronavirus disease (COVID) among adults with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019.
METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted from November 2022 to February 2025 at a single tertiary care hospital in Seoul, Korea. Adults aged 18 years or older with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were enrolled, yielding a total of 183 participants. Follow-up assessments took place at 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-months post-infection. The primary outcome was the prevalence of long COVID at 12 months, measured using the (≥ 12 points across specified symptoms) and the (≥ 1 symptom persisting for at least 3 months).
RESULTS: Of 183 participants, 26.2% (48/183) met the PASC index, whereas 47.5% (87/183) fulfilled the NASEM criteria. Of the 48 patients who met the PASC index, 44 (91.7%) also met the NASEM criteria.
CONCLUSION: The NASEM criteria classified nearly half of participants with long COVID and covered those with PASC index, while the PASC index identified about one quarter. Although the NASEM criteria capture a broader range of persistent symptoms, the PASC index may offer a more stringent threshold, potentially informing targeted research and clinical decision-making.
Key numbers
87 of 183
Prevalence of long COVID ()
Participants fulfilling the
48 of 183
Prevalence of long COVID ()
Participants meeting the
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