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Postacute symptoms are not uncommon after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection with pre-Omicron variants. How the Omicron variant and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) booster vaccination influence the risk of postacute symptoms is less clear. We analyzed data from a nationwide Danish questionnaire study, EFTER-COVID, comprising 36 109 individuals aged ≥15 years who were tested between July 2021 and January 2022, to evaluate the associations of the Omicron variant and COVID-19 booster vaccination with postacute symptoms and new-onset general health problems 4 months after infection with SARS-CoV-2. Risk differences (RDs) were estimated by comparing Omicron cases with controls, comparing Omicron cases with Delta cases, and comparing Omicron cases vaccinated with 3 doses with those vaccinated with 2 doses, adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, self-reported chronic diseases, Charlson comorbidity index, health-care occupation, and vaccination status. Four months after testing for SARS-CoV-2 during the Omicron period, cases experienced substantial postacute symptoms and new-onset health problems in comparison with controls; the largest RD was observed for memory issues (RD = 7.4%; 95% CI, 6.4-8.3). However, risks were generally lower than those in the Delta period, particularly for dysosmia (RD = –15.0%; 95% CI, −17.0 to −13.2) and dysgeusia (RD = –11.2%; 95% CI, −13.2 to −9.5). Booster vaccination was associated with fewer postacute symptoms and new-onset health problems 4 months after Omicron infection as compared with 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many individuals who refuse COVID-19 vaccination have concerns about long-term side effects. Here, we report findings on self-reported symptoms from a Danish survey- and register study. The study included 34,868 vaccinated primary course recipients, 95.8% of whom received mRNA vaccines, and 1,568 unvaccinated individuals. Participants had no known history of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Using g-computation on logistic regression, risk differences (RDs) for symptoms between vaccinated and unvaccinated persons were estimated with adjustments for possible confounders. Within six weeks after vaccination, higher risks were observed for physical exhaustion (RD 4.9%, 95% CI 1.1% to 8.4%), fever or chills (RD 4.4%, 95% CI 2.1% to 6.7%), and muscle/joint pain (RD 7.0%, 95% CI 3.1% to 10.7%), compared to unvaccinated individuals. Beyond twenty-six weeks, risks were higher among the vaccinated for sleeping problems (RD 3.0, 95% 0.2 to 5.8), fever or chills (RD 2.0, 95% CI 0.4 to 3.6), reduced/altered taste (RD 1.2, 95% CI 0.2 to 2.3) and shortness of breath (RD 2.6, 95% CI 0.9 to 4.0). However, when examining pre-omicron responses only, the difference for reduced/altered taste was significant. As expected, the risk of experiencing physical exhaustion, fever or chills, and muscle/joint pain was higher among persons who responded within six weeks of completing the primary course. No significant differences were observed for the 7-25-week period after vaccination. Associations for the period beyond 26 weeks must be interpreted with caution and in the context of undetected SARS-CoV-2 infection, wide confidence intervals, and multiple testing. Overall, we observe no concerning signs of long-term self-reported physical, cognitive, or fatigue symptoms after vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a reply to correspondence regarding a study on the long-term effectiveness of pollen allergen immunotherapy (AIT) in treating allergic rhinitis (AR). The authors address four comments made by Porsbjerg et al. In response to the first comment, the authors explain that although the Danish registries lack confirmed diagnoses of AR, patients with confirmed diagnoses of AR were indirectly included in the study. The authors also argue that their extensive matching likely resulted in a higher positive predictive value for AR in the non-treated group. In response to the second comment, the authors defend their propensity score matching and argue that the standardized differences for all markers were below 10%, indicating good balance. In response to the third comment, the authors clarify that approximately 50% of AIT-treated patients with INCS use in the three preceding pollen seasons were included in the study. Finally, in response to the fourth comment, the authors explain that their use of a binary outcome (use or non-use of INCS) was appropriate for determining the effectiveness of pollen AIT in stopping AR. The authors conclude by stating that their motivation was to understand if pollen AIT could be a robust solution to the allergy epidemic. [Extracted from the article]

Objectives: To investigate the associations of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour in early childhood with asthma and reduced lung function in later childhood within a large collaborative study., Design: Pooling of longitudinal data from collaborating birth cohorts using meta-analysis of separate cohort-specific estimates and analysis of individual participant data of all cohorts combined., Setting: Children aged 0-18 years from 26 European birth cohorts., Participants: 136 071 individual children from 26 cohorts, with information on PA and/or sedentary behaviour in early childhood and asthma assessment in later childhood., Main Outcome Measure: Questionnaire-based current asthma and lung function measured by spirometry (forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 ), FEV 1 /forced vital capacity) at age 6-18 years., Results: Questionnaire-based and accelerometry-based PA and sedentary behaviour at age 3-5 years was not associated with asthma at age 6-18 years (PA in hours/day adjusted OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.04; sedentary behaviour in hours/day adjusted OR 1.03, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.07). PA was not associated with lung function at any age. Analyses of sedentary behaviour and lung function showed inconsistent results., Conclusions: Reduced PA and increased sedentary behaviour before 6 years of age were not associated with the presence of asthma later in childhood., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background and Aims: To demonstrate that administration of 7500 Trichuris suis ova every second week over 24 weeks would reduce the intestinal inflammation in moderate ulcerative colitis., Methods: A single-centre, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, phase 2b clinical trial of 7500 Trichuris suis ova every two weeks for 24 weeks compared to placebo in moderate activity of ulcerative colitis (Mayo score 6-10) were performed. Primary outcome: Clinical remission. Secondary outcomes: Clinical response at 24 weeks, complete corticosteroid-free clinical remission, endoscopic remission, symptomatic remission at 12 and 24 weeks and partial Mayo score over time., Results: 119 patients were randomized to Trichuris suis ova (n=60) and placebo (n=59). At week 24, clinical remission was achieved in 30% of Trichuris suis ova-treated vs. 34% of placebo-treated (RR=0.89; CI:0.52-1.50; p=0.80, ITT). No difference was found in clinical response in any of the clinical response subgroups. However, in patients who did not need treatment with corticosteroids during the trial, a temporary effect of TSO was seen in the analysis of symptomatic remission of week 12 (p=0.01), and the partial Mayo score at week 14 and week 18 (p<0.05 and p=0.02)., Conclusions: Compared to placebo, Trichuris suis ova was not superior in achieving clinical remission at week 24 in ulcerative colitis or in achieving clinical Mayo score reduction, complete corticosteroid-free clinical remission or endoscopic remission. However, Trichuris suis ova treatment induced symptomatic temporary remission at week 12., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of European Crohn’s and Colitis Organisation. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Purpose: To follow SARS-CoV-2-infected persons up to 18 months after a positive test in order to assess the burden and nature of post acute symptoms and health problems., Participants: Persons in Denmark above 15 years of age, who were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during 1 September 2020 to 21 February 2023 using a RT-PCR test. As a reference group, three test-negative individuals were selected for every two test-positive individuals by matching on test date., Findings to Date: In total, 2 427 913 invitations to baseline questionnaires have been sent out and 839 528 baseline questionnaires (34.5%) have been completed. Females, the age group 50-69 years, Danish-born and persons, who had received at least one SARS-CoV-2 vaccination booster dose were more likely to participate. Follow-up questionnaires were sent at 2, 4, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months after the test, with response rates at 42%-54%., Future Plans: New participants have been recruited on a daily basis from 1 August 2021 to 23 March 2023. Data collection will continue until the last follow-up questionnaires (at 18 months after test) have been distributed in August 2024., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)