Scientific Reports (Jul 2023)

Dimensional structure of one-year post-COVID-19 neuropsychiatric and somatic sequelae and association with role impairment

  • Owen N. W. Leung,
  • Nicholas K. H. Chiu,
  • Samuel Y. S. Wong,
  • Pim Cuijpers,
  • Jordi Alonso,
  • Paul K. S. Chan,
  • Grace Lui,
  • Eliza Wong,
  • Ronny Bruffaerts,
  • Benjamin H. K. Yip,
  • Philippe Mortier,
  • Gemma Vilagut,
  • Dora Kwok,
  • Linda C. W. Lam,
  • Ronald C. Kessler,
  • Arthur D. P. Mak

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39209-z
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Abstract This study examined the latent structure of the broad range of complex neuropsychiatric morbidities occurring 1 year after COVID-19 infection. As part of the CU-COVID19 study, 248 (response rate=39.3%) of 631 adults hospitalized for COVID-19 infection in Hong Kong completed an online survey between March-2021 and January-2022. Disorder prevalence was compared against a random non-infected household sample (n=1834). 248 surveys were received on average 321 days post-infection (Mean age: 48.9, 54% female, moderate/severe/critical infection: 58.2%). 32.4% were screened to have at least one mental disorder, 78.7% of whom had concurrent fatigue/subjective cognitive impairment (SCI). Only PTSD (19.1%) was significantly more common than control (14%, p=0.047). Latent profile analysis classified individuals into P1 (12·4%)-no current neuropsychiatric morbidities, P2 (23.1%)-SCI/fatigue, P3 (45.2%)-anxiety/PTSD, P4 (19.3%)-depression. SCI and fatigue pervaded in all profiles (P2-4) with neuropsychiatric morbidities one-year post-infection. PTSD, anxiety and depressive symptoms were most important in differentiating P2-4. Past mental health and P4 independently predicted functional impairment. Neuropsychiatric morbidity was associated with past mental health, reduced resilience, financial problems, but not COVID-19 severity. Their confluence with depressive and anxiety symptoms predicted impairment and are associated with psychological and environmental factors.