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. 2023 Jul 7;11(13):1963.
doi: 10.3390/healthcare11131963.

Long-Term Impacts of COVID-19 Pneumonia on Quality of Life: A Single Institutional Pilot Study

Athavudh Deesomchok  1 , Chalerm Liwsrisakun  1 , Warawut Chaiwong  1 , Chaicharn Pothirat  1 , Pilaiporn Duangjit  1 , Chaiwat Bumroongkit  1 , Theerakorn Theerakittikul  1 , Atikun Limsukon  1 , Pattraporn Tajarernmuang  1 , Konlawij Trongtrakul  1 , Nutchanok Niyatiwatchanchai  1
Affiliations

Long-Term Impacts of COVID-19 Pneumonia on Quality of Life: A Single Institutional Pilot Study

Athavudh Deesomchok et al. Healthcare (Basel). .

Abstract

Many studies have demonstrated poor quality of life (QoL) at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, these studies were limited due to cross-sectional design, a longer gap between visits, and lack of controls for comparison. Therefore, the aim of our prospective study was to assess the impact of COVID-19 pneumonia on QoL in both physical and mental health. A prospective study was conducted on adult patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. We used the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Euro Quality of Life-5 Dimensions-5 Levels (EQ-5D-5L), EQ visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale to collect data at months, 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12. Thirty-eight patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and twenty-five healthy subjects were completely followed up on all visits. All domains of SF-36, except bodily pain and EQ-5D-5L of the patients, were lower than controls. There was an improvement of EQ-VAS and SF-36 including physical functioning, social functioning, and role limitation (physical problems) domains throughout study period in the COVID-19 pneumonia group. Adult patients who recovered from COVID-19 pneumonia had lower QoL which improved over the one-year follow-up period.

Keywords: COVID-19 pneumonia; anxiety; depression; long-term follow-up; quality of life.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The long-term impact of post-COVID-19 pneumonia on symptoms. Abbreviation: COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The Long-Term Impact of Post-COVID-19 Pneumonia on Symptoms of Cough (A) and Fatigue (B). Abbreviation: COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Health-Related Quality of Life Measured by SF-36 during follow-up period in post-COVID-19 pneumonia patients compared to healthy controls. Physical functioning (A), social functioning (B), role limitations physical problems (C), role limitations emotional problems (D), bodily pain (E), general health perceptions (F), mental health (G), and vitality (H). Note: Data are presented as mean ± SEM; * p Value < 0.05 compared to healthy controls; # p Value < 0.05 compared to month 1 visit. Abbreviations: COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; SF-36, 36-item Short-Form Health Survey.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Health-Related Quality of Life Measured by SF-36 during follow-up period in post-COVID-19 pneumonia patients compared to healthy controls. Physical functioning (A), social functioning (B), role limitations physical problems (C), role limitations emotional problems (D), bodily pain (E), general health perceptions (F), mental health (G), and vitality (H). Note: Data are presented as mean ± SEM; * p Value < 0.05 compared to healthy controls; # p Value < 0.05 compared to month 1 visit. Abbreviations: COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019; SF-36, 36-item Short-Form Health Survey.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale Measured by HADS Questionnaire in post-COVID-19 pneumonia patients compared to healthy controls. Anxiety (A) and Depression (B). Abbreviation: HADS, the Hospital and Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaire; COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019.
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