Aims: The main aim of the study was to describe self-reported symptoms of COVID-19 and examine if long-term symptoms are associated with lifestyle factors or common chronic diseases among Swedish young adults. A secondary aim was to compare the prevalence of smoking and snuff use before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The study population includes 1644 participants aged 23–26 years from the Swedish population-based birth cohort BAMSE. From August to November 2020, the participants answered a web questionnaire on COVID-19 symptoms, lifestyle and health. Information on tobacco use was compared against the previous study follow-up in 2016–2019. Results: The prevalence of suspected COVID-19 symptoms was 45.3% ( n =742), and 80 of these (10.8%) reported long-term symptoms (⩾4 weeks). There was no significant difference in sociodemographic or lifestyle factors in relation to the duration of suspected COVID-19 symptoms. Rhinitis, migraine and lower self-rated health before the pandemic was more common among participants with long-term symptoms. In addition, there was a tendency for higher prevalences of asthma, chronic bronchitis and depression in this group. The prevalence of smoking decreased from 18.9% before the pandemic to 14.7% during the pandemic, while snuff use increased from 12.7% to 22.4% ( P <0.001). Conclusions: Almost half of Swedish young adults have had symptoms of suspected COVID-19 from February up to August 2020. Among these, one out of 10 have had long-term symptoms for at least 4 weeks. Long-term symptoms of suspected COVID-19 were associated with several common chronic conditions. Smoking may have decreased during the pandemic, while snuff use may have increased.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, smoking, young adult, Sweden, smokeless tobacco, 【초록키워드】 Asthma, pandemic, Depression, COVID-19 pandemic, Symptom, Symptoms, chronic disease, Prevalence, Adults, Cohort, Health, Follow-up, COVID-19 symptoms, questionnaire, chronic conditions, COVID-19 symptom, Factor, no significant difference, study population, bronchitis, participant, rhinitis, Sociodemographic, self-reported symptom, include, reported, addition, Swedish, 【제목키워드】 Symptom, Factor,