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. 2022 Apr 22:5:31.
doi: 10.12688/hrbopenres.13516.1. eCollection 2022.

Impact of Long COVID on health and quality of life

Liam O' Mahony  1   2   3 , Tanja Buwalda  4 , Matthew Blair  5 , Brian Forde  2   3 , Nonhlanhla Lunjani  3 , Anoop Ambikan  6 , Ujjwal Neogi  6 , Peter Barrett  7 , Eoin Geary  8   9 , Nuala O'Connor  10 , Jennifer Dineen  11 , Gerard Clarke  3   11 , Eric Kelleher  8   11 , Mary Horgan  1   3   5 , Arthur Jackson  1   5 , Corinna Sadlier  1   5
Affiliations

Impact of Long COVID on health and quality of life

Liam O' Mahony et al. HRB Open Res. .

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to measure the impact of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) on quality of life, mental health, ability to work and return to baseline health in an Irish cohort. Methods: We invited individuals with symptoms of COVID-19 lasting more than 14 days to participate in an anonymous online questionnaire. Basic demographic data and self-reported symptoms were recorded. Internationally validated instruments including the patient health questionnaire somatic, anxiety and depressive symptom scales (PHQ-SADS), the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15) and Chadler fatigue scale (CFQ) were used. Results: We analysed responses from 988 participants with self-reported confirmed (diagnostic/antibody positive; 81%) or suspected (diagnostic/antibody negative or untested; 9%) COVID-19. The majority of respondents were female (88%), white (98%), with a median age of 43.0 (range 15 - 88 years old) and a median BMI of 26.0 (range 16 - 60). At the time of completing this survey, 89% of respondents reported that they have not returned to their pre-COVID-19 level of health. The median number of symptoms reported was 8 (range 0 to 33 symptoms), with a median duration of 12 months (range 1 to 20 months) since time of acute infection. A high proportion of PASC patients reported that they have a moderate or severe limitation in their ability to carry out their usual activities, 38% report their ability to work is severely limited and 33% report a moderate, or higher, level of anxiety or depression. Conclusion: The results of this survey of an Irish cohort with PASC are in line with reports from other settings, and we confirm that patients with PASC reported prolonged, multi-system symptoms which can significantly impact quality of life, affect ability to work and cause significant disability. Dedicated multidisciplinary, cross specialty supports are required to improve outcomes of this patient group.

Keywords: COVID-19; Long COVID; PASC.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: LOM is a consultant to PrecisionBiotics and has received research funding from GSK and Chiesi. LOM has participated in speaker's bureau for Nestle, Nutricia, Reckitt, and Abbott. WCA has participated in advisory boards for Pfizer, MSD, and Sanofi, with reimbursements paid to his institution. None of the other authors report any conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Baseline Characteristics.
a. Pre-existing comorbidities. b. Self-assessment of acute COVID-19 infection severity. c. Level of care sought for acute COVID-19 infection.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
a. Acute COVID-19 Symptoms. b. PASC Symptoms.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.. 5Q-5D-5L measure of Health Status Today.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.. PASC symptom prediction models.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.. Prediction model for return to pre-COVID-19 level of health.
Figure 9.
Figure 9.
a. GAD-7 Symptoms. b. GAD-7 Anxiety Scale
Figure 10.
Figure 10.
a. PHQ-9 Symptoms. b. PHQ-9 depression severity.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
a. PHQ-15 symptoms. b. PHQ-15 Somatic Symptoms Severity.
Figure 7.
Figure 7.
a. Chalder Fatigue Scale responses. b. Chalder Fatigue Scale score.
Figure 8.
Figure 8.. Cluster analysis of responses to Chalder Fatigue Scale questionnaire.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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