Post-COVID symptoms and mental health status 13–18 months post COVID-19 infection

COVID-19 infection may have long-lasting implications on mental health and cognitive functions. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of post-COVID-19-related symptoms 13–18 months post-COVID-19 infection and to study the associations between past COVID-19 infection, poor mental health, and cognitive disturbances. This national retrospective cohort study was conducted from February through June 2022 among a sample of citizens aged ≥ 21 years who performed a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test 13–18 months before entering the study. Self-reported symptoms, poor mental health (a score of ≤ 60 in the 5-item Mental Health Inventory), and cognitive disturbances 13–18 months after the PCR test were compared between those who tested positive and negative. Of 1080 participants, 780 were past SARS-CoV-2-positive, and 300, were SARS-CoV-2-negative. Among the recovered participants, 31.5