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. 2023 Mar 22;21(1):28.
doi: 10.1186/s12955-023-02107-z.

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

Ilaria Mastrorosa  1 , Giulia Del Duca  2 , Carmela Pinnetti  2 , Patrizia Lorenzini  2   3 , Alessandra Vergori  2 , Anna Clelia Brita  4 , Marta Camici  2 , Valentina Mazzotta  2 , Francesco Baldini  2 , Pierangelo Chinello  2 , Paola Mencarini  2 , Maria Letizia Giancola  2 , Amina Abdeddaim  2 , Enrico Girardi  5 , Francesco Vaia  6 , Andrea Antinori  2
Affiliations

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

Ilaria Mastrorosa et al. Health Qual Life Outcomes. .

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.

Keywords: Health-related quality of life; Long COVID; Mental health; Neuropsychiatric symptoms; Physical health; Post-COVID-19 condition; Post-COVID-19 syndrome; Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 infection (PASC); Sleep disorders; The Short-Form 36-item questionnaire.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Mean scores in SF-36 subscales and in EQ-VAS, in the study population (first bar) and by month of evaluation (other bars). SF-36 the Short-Form 36-item questionnaire; EQ-VAS Visual Analogue Scale score of the EQ-5D; PF Physical Function; RP limitations due to physical health problems—Role Physical; BP Bodily Pain; GH General Health; VT vitality; SF social functioning; RE limitations due to emotional health problems—Role Emotional; MH mental health; PCS physical components score of the SF-36; MCS mental components score of the SF-36; * p-values for trend over time by month of evaluation after the acute infection, are shown
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