Design of the Arizona CoVHORT: A Population-Based COVID-19 Cohort

Abstract

This study is a prospective, population-based cohort of individuals with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection and those without past infection through multiple recruitment sources. The main study goal is to track health status over time, within the diverse populations of Arizona and to identify the long-term consequences of COVID-19 on health and well-being. A total of 2,881 study participants (16.2% with a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection) have been enrolled as of December 22, 2020, with a target enrollment of 10,000 participants and a planned follow-up of at least 2 years. This manuscript describes a scalable study design that utilizes a wide range of recruitment sources, leveraging electronic data collection to capture and link longitudinal participant data on the current and emerging issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The cohort is built within a collaborative infrastructure that includes new and established partnerships with multiple stakeholders, including the state's public universities, local health departments, tribes, and tribal organizations. Challenges remain for ensuring recruitment of diverse participants and participant retention, although the electronic data management system and timing of participant contact can help to mitigate these problems.

Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 in a non-hospitalized cohort: Results from the Arizona CoVHORT

“…Ethics approval was obtained from the University of Arizona Institutional Review Board (Protocol #2003521636A002). In May 2020, we began recruitment for CoVHORT, a prospective cohort study aimed to investigate the impacts of the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic among Arizona residents [ 4 ]. Briefly, targeted recruitment into CoVHORT occurs through multiple routes including enrollment of confirmed COVID-19 participants occurred via case investigations for Arizona health departments conducted by The University of Arizona’s Student Aid for Field Epidemiology Response program [ 5 ].…”

“…All CoVHORT participants are emailed links to online surveys at 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months post-baseline. At each of these surveys, we ask participants to provide updates to their SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 disease status including results of any diagnostic (PCR, antigen or antibody) tests completed since their last survey and information regarding the acute phase of infection if they have tested positive [ 4 ]. Participants who have tested positive are emailed a link to complete an additional online survey to assess the post-acute phase of their COVID-19 disease at 6 weeks post-report date of incident COVID-19, which asks whether they were experiencing any of 25 new or recurring symptoms (an open field was included for symptoms not listed).…”

Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 in a non-hospitalized cohort: results from the Arizona CoVHORT

“…In May 2020, we began recruitment for a cohort study, CoVHORT, that aimed to investigate the impact of SARS-Cov-2 among Arizona residents (1). Briefly, targeted recruitment of confirmed COVID-19 participants occurred via case investigations for Arizona health departments conducted by The University of Arizona's Student Aid for Field Epidemiology Response program (2).…”

Long-term health sequelae and quality of life at least 6 months after infection with SARS-CoV-2: design and rationale of the COVIDOM-study as part of the NAPKON population-based cohort platform (POP)

“…So far, only a small number of studies focussing on the long-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection have adopted a population-based approach. Population-based cohort studies on COVID-19 currently include infected, potentially infected and uninfected participants [ 37 , 38 ]. To the best of our knowledge, these studies have focused primarily on the collection of information about demographics, symptom persistence, the psychological and socioeconomic consequences of the pandemic, about measures to fight the pandemic and about chronic conditions.…”

“…Even though there exist other systematic collections of laboratory and clinical data [ 39 ], medical examinations and a systematic collection of biomaterials often are not performed in population-based studies. Instead, medical follow-up data and biosamples are mainly collected in non-population-based studies with hospitalized participants [ 5 , 33 , 37 , 38 ]. The NAPKON-POP COVIDOM cohort thus complements other studies on SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 by providing original population-based data on the long-term consequences of these health problems and expands other research initiatives in many ways.…”