Health and Quality of Life Outcomes (Jun 2019)

Quality of life reported by survivors after hospitalization for Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)

  • Sarah Batawi,
  • Nehal Tarazan,
  • Rajaa Al-Raddadi,
  • Eman Al Qasim,
  • Anees Sindi,
  • Sameera AL Johni,
  • Fahad M. Al-Hameed,
  • Yaseen M. Arabi,
  • Timothy M. Uyeki,
  • Basem M. Alraddadi

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-019-1165-2
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 17, no. 1
pp. 1 – 7

Abstract

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Abstract Introduction Data are lacking on impact of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among survivors. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey of MERS survivors who required hospitalization in Saudi Arabia during 2016–2017, approximately 1 year after diagnosis. The Short-Form General Health Survey 36 (SF-36) was administered by telephone interview to assess 8 quality of life domains for MERS survivors and a sample of survivors of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) without MERS. We compared mean SF-36 scores of MERS and non-MERS SARI survivors using independent t-test, and compared categorical variables using chi-square test. Adjusted analyses were performed using multiple linear regression. Results Of 355 MERS survivors, 83 were eligible and 78 agreed to participate. MERS survivors were younger than non-MERS SARI survivors (mean ± SD): (44.9 years ±12.9) vs (50.0 years ±13.6), p = 0.031. Intensive care unit (ICU) admissions were similar for MERS and non-MERS SARI survivors (46.2% vs. 57.1%), p = 0.20. After adjusting for potential confounders, there were no significant differences between MERS and non-MERS SARI survivors in physical component or mental component summary scores. MERS ICU survivors scored lower than MERS survivors not admitted to an ICU for physical function (p = 0.05), general health (p = 0.01), vitality (p = 0.03), emotional role (p = 0.03) and physical component summary (p < 0.02). Conclusions Functional scores were similar for MERS and non-MERS SARI survivors. However, MERS survivors of critical illness reported lower quality of life than survivors of less severe illness. Efforts are needed to address the long-term medical and psychological needs of MERS survivors.

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