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. 2019 Jun 11;17(1):101.
doi: 10.1186/s12955-019-1165-2.

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

Sarah Batawi  1 , Nehal Tarazan  2 , Rajaa Al-Raddadi  3 , Eman Al Qasim  4 , Anees Sindi  1 , Sameera Al Johni  5 , Fahad M Al-Hameed  6 , Yaseen M Arabi  6 , Timothy M Uyeki  7 , Basem M Alraddadi  8
Affiliations

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

Sarah Batawi et al. Health Qual Life Outcomes. .

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.

Keywords: Coronavirus; Health-related quality of life (HRQoL); Long term outcome, survivors; Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS); Pneumonia; Saudi Arabia; Severe acute respiratory infection (SARI).

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
a MERS survivor recruitment process
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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