Long-Term Impairment of Working Ability in Subjects under 60 Years of Age Hospitalised for COVID-19 at 2 Years of Follow-Up: A Cross-Sectional Study
Luisa Frallonardo,
Annunziata Ilenia Ritacco,
Angela Amendolara,
Domenica Cassano,
Giorgia Manco Cesari,
Alessia Lugli,
Mariangela Cormio,
Michele De Filippis,
Greta Romita,
Giacomo Guido,
Luigi Piccolomo,
Vincenzo Giliberti,
Francesco Cavallin,
Francesco Vladimiro Segala,
Francesco Di Gennaro,
Annalisa Saracino
Affiliations
Luisa Frallonardo
Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare n. 11 Cap, 70124 Bari, Italy
Annunziata Ilenia Ritacco
Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare n. 11 Cap, 70124 Bari, Italy
Angela Amendolara
Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare n. 11 Cap, 70124 Bari, Italy
Domenica Cassano
Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare n. 11 Cap, 70124 Bari, Italy
Giorgia Manco Cesari
Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare n. 11 Cap, 70124 Bari, Italy
Alessia Lugli
Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare n. 11 Cap, 70124 Bari, Italy
Mariangela Cormio
Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare n. 11 Cap, 70124 Bari, Italy
Michele De Filippis
Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare n. 11 Cap, 70124 Bari, Italy
Greta Romita
Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare n. 11 Cap, 70124 Bari, Italy
Giacomo Guido
Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare n. 11 Cap, 70124 Bari, Italy
Luigi Piccolomo
Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare n. 11 Cap, 70124 Bari, Italy
Vincenzo Giliberti
Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare n. 11 Cap, 70124 Bari, Italy
Francesco Cavallin
Independent Statistician, 36020 Solagna, Italy
Francesco Vladimiro Segala
Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare n. 11 Cap, 70124 Bari, Italy
Francesco Di Gennaro
Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare n. 11 Cap, 70124 Bari, Italy
Annalisa Saracino
Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Piazza Giulio Cesare n. 11 Cap, 70124 Bari, Italy
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can lead to persistent and debilitating symptoms referred to as Post-Acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) This broad symptomatology lasts for months after the acute infection and impacts physical and mental health and everyday functioning. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence and predictors of long-term impairment of working ability in non-elderly people hospitalised for COVID-19. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 322 subjects hospitalised for COVID-19 from 1 March 2020 to 31 December 2022 in the University Hospital of Bari, Apulia, Italy, enrolled at the time of their hospital discharge and followed-up at a median of 731 days since hospitalization (IQR 466–884). Subjects reporting comparable working ability and those reporting impaired working ability were compared using the Mann-Whitney test (continuous data) and Fisher’s test or Chi-Square test (categorical data). Multivariable analysis of impaired working ability was performed using a logistic regression model. Results: Among the 322 subjects who were interviewed, 184 reported comparable working ability (57.1%) and 134 reported impaired working ability (41.6%) compared to the pre-COVID-19 period. Multivariable analysis identified age at hospital admission (OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.04), female sex (OR 1.90, 95% CI 1.18 to 3.08), diabetes (OR 3.73, 95% CI 1.57 to 9.65), receiving oxygen during hospital stay (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.01 to 3.06), and severe disease (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.26 to 1.01) as independent predictors of long-term impaired working ability after being hospitalised for COVID-19. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that PASC promotes conditions that could result in decreased working ability and unemployment. These results highlight the significant impact of this syndrome on public health and the global economy, and the need to develop clinical pathways and guidelines for long-term care with specific focus on working impairment.
