Health and Quality of Life Outcomes (Mar 2023)

What is the impact of post-COVID-19 syndrome on health-related quality of life and associated factors: a cross-sectional analysis

  • Ilaria Mastrorosa,
  • Giulia Del Duca,
  • Carmela Pinnetti,
  • Patrizia Lorenzini,
  • Alessandra Vergori,
  • Anna Clelia Brita,
  • Marta Camici,
  • Valentina Mazzotta,
  • Francesco Baldini,
  • Pierangelo Chinello,
  • Paola Mencarini,
  • Maria Letizia Giancola,
  • Amina Abdeddaim,
  • Enrico Girardi,
  • Francesco Vaia,
  • Andrea Antinori

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-023-02107-z
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 21, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Abstract Background After the acute phase, symptoms or sequelae related to post-COVID-19 syndrome may persist for months. In a population of patients, previously hospitalized and not, followed up to 12 months after the acute infection, we aim to assess whether and to what extent post-COVID-19 syndrome may have an impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and to investigate influencing factors. Methods We present the cross-sectional analysis of a prospective study, including patients referred to the post-COVID-19 service. Questionnaires and scales administered at 3, 6, 12 months were: Short-Form 36-item questionnaire (SF-36); Visual Analogue Scale of the EQ5D (EQ-VAS); in a subgroup, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Linear regression models were fitted to identify factors associated with HRQoL. Results We considered the first assessment of each participant (n = 572). The mean scores in SF-36 and in EQ-VAS were significantly lower than the Italian normative values and remained stable over time, except the mental components score (MCS) of the SF-36 and EQ-VAS which resulted in lower ratings at the last observations. Female gender, presence of comorbidities, and corticosteroids treatment during acute COVID-19, were associated with lower scores in SF-36 and EQ-VAS; patients previously hospitalized (54%) reported higher MCS. Alterations in BAI, BDI-II, and PSQI (n = 265)were associated with lower ratings in SF-36 and EQ-VAS. Conclusions This study provides evidence of a significantly bad perception of health status among persons with post-COVID-19 syndrome, associated with female gender and, indirectly, with disease severity. In case of anxious-depressive symptoms and sleep disorders, a worse HRQoL was also reported. A systematic monitoring of these aspects is recommended to properly manage the post-COVID-19 period.

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