REACT Long COVID [COVID-19] [UPH]

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  REACT Long COVID (REACT-LC) - Research into the Longer Term Effects of COVID-19 in Non-hospitalised Individuals.

• IRAS ID

  298404

• Contact name

  Paul Elliott

• Contact email

  p.elliott@imperial.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Imperial College London

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 10 months, 18 days

• Research summary

  The UK has experienced one of the largest epidemics of COVID-19 in Europe. As well as the risk of hospitalisation and death from COVID-19 it is clear that some people who develop symptoms have a prolonged and debilitating illness that may continue for weeks or months (so-called Long COVID or post-COVID syndrome). Our initial estimates from REACT suggest nearly 25% of individuals with evidence of prior infection experience one or more symptoms 12 weeks after their initial illness. Long COVID may require new treatment approaches, and better diagnostic and prognostic signatures will be vital for more effective management.
  In this study we will follow 120,000 people (~30,000 testing positive for virus or antibody in the REACT programme and at least 90,000 testing negative), via regular questionnaires and health record linkage, in a nested case-cohort design. Participants with Long COVID will be asked to join a panel to provide regular updates on their symptoms; 60 will be invited for in-depth interview. This will provide a longitudinal assessment of the long-term sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection and Long COVID.
  In addition to completing the questionnaires, 8,000 individuals will attend an assessment centre where we will take key clinical measurements and collect blood and urine samples. For a sub-sample of 2,000 participants, we will include a second attendance after 4-6 months to repeat the same measurements and samples as the first visit. Multi-omic and WGS analysis will be performed on the samples from the 8,000 individuals and the 2,000 second visit samples (except WGS) with other biological determinants (2,000 samples at each of first and second visits).
  The key outcomes will be:
  1. Symptoms and prevalence for Long COVID
  2. Identified genomic, biological pathway and -omic differences between participants who suffer from Long COVID and those who do not.

• REC name

  South Central - Berkshire B Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  21/SC/0134

• Date of REC Opinion

  22 Apr 2021

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion