Reported symptoms, and self-rated physical and mental health*, by SARS-CoV-2 status, at time of testing and 6 months post-test
| At time of testing | 6 months post-test | |||
| Positive SARS-CoV-2 (n=6407) | Negative SARS-CoV-2 (n=6542) | Positive SARS-CoV-2 (n=6407) | Negative SARS-CoV-2 (n=6542) | |
| No reported symptoms | 3736 (58.3%) | 5921 (90.5%) | 2507 (39.1%) | 3713 (56.8%) |
| 1 symptom | 239 (3.7%) | 77 (1.2%) | 1355 (21.2%) | 1228 (18.8%) |
| 2 symptoms | 262 (4.1%) | 94 (1.4%) | 779 (12.2%) | 563 (8.6%) |
| 3 symptoms | 297 (4.6%) | 98 (1.5%) | 569 (8.9%) | 318 (4.9%) |
| 4 symptoms | 306 (4.8%) | 83 (1.3%) | 393 (6.1%) | 216 (3.3%) |
| ≥5 symptoms | 1567 (24.5%) | 269 (4.1%) | 804 (12.6%) | 504 (7.7%) |
| Specific symptoms | ||||
| Fever | 1269 (19.8%) | 279 (4.3%) | 82 (1.3%) | 96 (1.5%) |
| Chills | 1002 (15.6%) | 173 (2.6%) | 479 (7.5%) | 387 (5.9%) |
| Persistent cough | 969 (15.1%) | 310 (4.7%) | 215 (3.4%) | 209 (3.2%) |
| Tiredness | 1607 (25.1%) | 233 (3.6%) | 2458 (38.4%) | 1747 (26.7%) |
| Shortness of breath | 759 (11.9%) | 112 (1.7%) | 1462 (22.8%) | 710 (10.9%) |
| Loss of smell | 1726 (26.9%) | 117 (1.8%) | 903 (14.1%) | 90 (1.4%) |
| Unusually hoarse voice | 299 (4.7%) | 77 (1.2%) | 98 (1.5%) | 95 (1.5%) |
| Unusual chest pain | 580 (9.1%) | 116 (1.8%) | 419 (6.5%) | 234 (3.6%) |
| Unusual abdominal pain | 299 (4.7%) | 76 (1.2%) | 288 (4.5%) | 226 (3.5%) |
| Diarrhoea | 299 (4.7%) | 85 (1.3%) | 181 (2.8%) | 157 (2.4%) |
| Headaches | 1858 (29.0%) | 353 (5.4%) | 1171 (18.3%) | 825 (12.6%) |
| Confusion, disorientation or drowsiness | 476 (7.4%) | 53 (0.8%) | 345 (5.4%) | 218 (3.3%) |
| Unusual eye soreness | 393 (6.1%) | 54 (0.8%) | 356 (5.6%) | 260 (4.0%) |
| Skipping meals | 782 (12.2%) | 111 (1.7%) | 609 (9.5%) | 448 (6.9%) |
| Dizziness or light-headedness | 1023 (16.0%) | 180 (2.8%) | 838 (13.1%) | 535 (8.2%) |
| Sore throat | 1418 (22.1%) | 397 (6.1%) | 414 (6.5%) | 406 (6.2%) |
| Unusual strong muscle pains | 670 (10.5%) | 69 (1.1%) | 286 (4.5%) | 163 (2.5%) |
| Earache or ringing in ears | 304 (4.7%) | 66 (1.0%) | 407 (6.4%) | 284 (4.3%) |
| Raised welts on skin or swelling | 71 (1.1%) | 21 (0.3%) | 73 (1.1%) | 47 (0.7%) |
| Red/purple sores/blisters on feet | 50 (0.8%) | 14 (0.2%) | 66 (1.0%) | 58 (0.9%) |
| Other | 209 (3.3%) | 35 (0.5%) | 488 (7.6%) | 384 (5.9%) |
| Previous physical health* | ||||
| Very poor or poor | 107 (1.7%) | 148 (2.3%) | ||
| Okay | 1212 (18.9%) | 1428 (21.8%) | ||
| Good or very good | 5088 (79.4%) | 4966 (75.9%) | ||
| Previous mental health* | ||||
| Very poor or poor | 516 (8.1%) | 667 (10.2%) | ||
| Okay | 1790 (27.9%) | 1968 (30.1%) | ||
| Good or very good | 4101 (64.0%) | 3907 (59.7%) | ||
| Self-rated health† | 90 (85–100) | 90 (80–100) | 90 (80–95) | 90 (80–100) |
Data are n (%).
*Participants were asked ‘How was your physical/mental health in general before your COVID-19 test?’ in two separate questions using a five-category Likert scale; we recoded these variables into three categories (very poor and poor, okay, and good and very good); questions were not asked in relation to 6 months post-test.
†Reported as median (IQR), measured by a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) (EQ-5D VAS score), which records responses to the question ‘Please look at the scale and select the number for your health BEFORE your COVID-19 test and your health TODAY’. Participants were told that ‘100% means the best health you can think of; 0% means the worst health you can think of’.