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NCT Number: NCT05181670

The Canadian Respiratory Research Network Long COVID-19 Study

Preliminary studies suggest that COVID-19 causes long-term lung damage, even in young, otherwise healthy people who did not need to go to hospital or the ICU.

We seek to know how common long-term lung damage after COVID-19 is, who is most affected by it and what the effects of this damage are on other important aspects of people's lives. We plan to study a large sample of people with a history of COVID-19 infection from across Canada-some who needed hospitalization but most who did not. Through online questionnaires, we will determine their respiratory symptoms, quality of life and medical history. Then we will invite them to one of our thirteen Canadian testing centres to have special, thorough breathing tests.

We hypothesize that COVID-19 leaves a significant proportion of people with measurable respiratory impairment.

The information we learn about the effect of COVID-19 on the lungs will help patients and health care providers manage it better. It will also reveal how different COVID-19 variants affect the lungs. We will use this new knowledge to write a formal guide on what respiratory monitoring and testing should be done after COVID-19 infection. This will ensure that people affected by COVID-19 get the care they need to maintain their lung health.

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Key information

Conditions

Sars-CoV-2 Infection COVID-19 Coronaviridae Infections Coronavirus Infections Infections Lung Diseases Nidovirales Infections Pneumonia Pneumonia, Viral Post-acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 RNA Virus Infections Respiratory Tract Diseases Respiratory Tract Infections Virus Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

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About this study

We will prospectively recruit a representative, random sample of adult (age ≥ 18), community-dwelling patients, who have had a positive PCR test for COVID-19 infection and symptomatic infection five to 12 months previously.

This cross-sectional, observational study will have two phases:

  • Screening:

Screening for eligibility

  • Observation Period:
  • Online / telephone visit: All participants will complete a series of questionnaires (either online or by phone with the assistance of research personnel). In the questionnaires they will be asked about respiratory symptoms (the primary outcome), baseline participant data, burden of respiratory symptoms, overall quality of life, mental health issues as well as physical and psychological trauma from COVID-19.
  • In-person visit: All participants will complete pulmonary function testing including oscillometry.

The study of COVID-19 infection and its long-term effects is constantly evolving. Over the course of this research study, new knowledge may become available that may lead to changes in the study's outcome measures.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Aged ≥18
  • Community dwelling
  • First occurrence of a positive diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2 infection (i.e., PCR or rapid antigen test, including at-home rapid antigen test) and symptomatic infection 5-12 months previously
  • Consent provided
  • Willing and able to go to study site for pulmonary function testing including oscillometry

Exclusion criteria

  • Not able to communicate with our research personnel (themselves or through a translator)

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. To determine the prevalence of respiratory post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) and PASC

    Time frame: At five-12 months post positive PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 infection

Secondary outcomes

  1. To determine risk factors for respiratory PASC

    Time frame: At five-12 months post positive PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 infection

  2. To determine the spectrum of severity of respiratory PASC

    Time frame: At five-12 months post positive PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 infection

  3. To determine objective physiologic characteristics of respiratory PASC

    Time frame: At five-12 months post positive PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 infection

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Other

Collaborators

  • Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Jan 6, 2022
Registry last updated
May 21, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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