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. 2023 Jan 24:28:100596.
doi: 10.1016/j.bbih.2023.100596. eCollection 2023 Mar.

Effect of mild COVID-19 on health-related quality of life

Mary Patricia Nowalk  1 , Theresa M Sax  2 , Michael Susick  1 , Louise H Taylor  1 , Lloyd G Clarke  3 , Klancie Dauer  2 , Karen Clarke  1 , Krissy Moehling Geffel  1 , Richard K Zimmerman  1 , G K Balasubramani  2
Affiliations

Effect of mild COVID-19 on health-related quality of life

Mary Patricia Nowalk et al. Brain Behav Immun Health. .

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the effects of a mild SARS-CoV-2 infection on health-related quality of life.

Methods: This prospective observational study of symptomatic adults (18-87 years) who sought outpatient care for an acute respiratory illness, was conducted from 3/30/2020 to 4/30/2021. Participants completed the Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) at enrollment and 6-8 weeks later, to report their physical and mental health function levels as measured by the physical health and mental health composite scores (PHC and MHC, respectively). PHC and MHC scores for COVID-19 cases and non-COVID cases were compared using t-tests. Multivariable regression modeling was used to determine predictors of physical and mental health function at follow-up.

Results: Of 2301 enrollees, 426 COVID-19 cases and 547 non-COVID cases completed both surveys. PHC improved significantly from enrollment to follow-up for both COVID-19 cases (5.4 ± 0.41; P < 0.001) and non-COVID cases (3.3 ± 0.32; P < 0.001); whereas MHC improved significantly for COVID-19 cases (1.4 ± 0.51; P < 0.001) and decreased significantly for non-COVID cases (-0.8 ± 0.37; P < 0.05). Adjusting for enrollment PHC, the most important predictors of PHC at follow-up included male sex (β = 1.17; SE = 0.5; P = 0.021), having COVID-19 (β = 1.99; SE = 0.54; P < 0.001); and non-white race (β = -2.01; SE = 0.70; P = 0.004). Adjusting for enrollment MHC, the most important predictors of MHC at follow-up included male sex (β = 1.92; SE = 0.63; P = 0.002) and having COVID-19 (β = 2.42; SE = 0.67; P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Both COVID-19 cases and non-COVID cases reported improved physical health function at 6-8 weeks' convalescence; whereas mental health function improved among COVID-19 cases but declined among non-COVID cases. Both physical and mental health functioning were significantly better among males with COVID-19 than females.

Keywords: COVID-19; Health-related quality of life; Mental health functional status; Physical health functional status.

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Conflict of interest statement

Drs. Nowalk and Balasubramani have grant funding from 10.13039/100004334Merck & Co., Inc. for an unrelated project. Drs. Zimmerman, Nowalk and Balasubramani have grant funding from 10.13039/100014588Sanofi on an unrelated project. Mr. Clarke, Ms. Clarke, Mr. Susick, Ms. Dauer, Ms. Sax, Dr. Taylor, Dr. Moehling Geffel have no conflicts to report.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow chart.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Change in functional status group (<50 low vs. ≥50 high) from enrollment to follow-up for COVID-19 cases and non-COVID cases.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Predictors of higher SF-12 composite score (better functional status) following acute respiratory illness.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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