Huang L, Yao Q, Gu X, et al. - During 1-year follow-up of COVID-19 survivors, most reported a good physical and functional recovery, and had returned to their original work and life. Relative to the control population, COVID-19 survivors still had lower health status at 12 months.

• An ambidirectional cohort study of COVID-19 survivors.

• Survivors were administered questionnaires on symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and underwent a physical examination, a 6-min walking test, and laboratory tests, at 6-month and 12-month follow-up visit.

• Both visits were completed by 1,276 COVID-19 survivors; median age 59·0 years (IQR 49·0–67·0) and 53% men.

• There was a decrease in the proportion of patients with at least one sequelae symptom from 68% (831/1227) at 6 months to 49% (620/1272) at 12 months.

• A slight increase in the proportion of patients with dyspnoea and patients with anxiety or depression appeared.

• Women had odd ratios of 1·43, 2·00, and 2·97 for fatigue or muscle weakness, anxiety or depression, and diffusion impairment, respectively, when compared with men.

• More problems with mobility, pain or discomfort, and anxiety or depression, and greater prevalence of symptoms were recorded among matched COVID-19 survivors vs controls at 12 months.