Main Predictors of Decreasing in Quality of Life in Patients With Post-COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study

• Published in: Value in health regional issues Vol. 45; p. 101039
• Main Authors: Cázares-Lara, Jonnathan O., Ordinola-Navarro, Alberto, Carmona-Aguilera, Zully, Benitez-Altamirano, Gustavo M., Beltran-Ontiveros, Luis D., Ramirez-Hinojosa, Juan P., Lopez-Vejar, Cesar, Lopez-Luis, Bruno A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.01.2025
• Subjects: EQ-5D-5L; long COVID; quality of life; quality of life; EQ-5D-5L; long COVID
• ISSN: 2212-1099; 2212-1102; 2212-1102
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vhri.2024.101039

We aimed to assess physical and psychosomatic manifestations of patients with long COVID and their association with a decreased patient’s quality of life (QOL) or different times elapsed since the COVID-19 diagnosis. This is a cross-sectional study. We retrospectively collected the clinical characteristics of adult patients who had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and had symptoms at least as early as 4 weeks after COVID-19 in México City between April 2020 and February 2021. A total of 179 were included. They answered questions to define chronic symptoms. The Sniffin’ Sticks Screening 12 test olfactory evaluation was performed. The diminish of QOL was defined by ≥10 points in the EuroQol visual analog scale between pre- and post-COVID-19, and each dimension of EQ-5D-5L test was evaluated. Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, Student t test, Wilcoxon rank-sum, and signed-rank test were used as required. A backward stepwise logistic regression analysis determined the factors associated with a decrease in QOL. All analyses were performed using R software version 3.6.3 (R Foundation). In the multivariable analysis, post-COVID-19 pain/discomfort (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.5 [1.66-9.68]; P = .01), anxiety/depression (aOR 13 [1.44-17.23]; P = .03), and persistence of ≥3 symptoms (aOR 2.6 [0.96-7.47]; P = .05) remained statistically significant associated with decreased QOL. Patients with long COVID-19 have decreased QOL mainly associated with pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression, and ≥3 persistent symptoms. Our findings enhanced the notion of a strong psychosomatic factors involved with long COVID-19. Therefore, these patients might benefit from neuropsychological rehabilitation, although the effect of such interventions should be evaluated. •Patients with post-COVID-19 alteration enhance the notion of a strong psychosomatic factors involved in the post-COVID-19 syndrome with a decrease in quality of life of millions of patients worldwide.•The patients with post-COVID-19 alterations perceive a decreased quality of life probably due to effects of pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression (according to EQ-5D), and ≥3 persistent symptoms.•The patients with post-COVID-19 alterations might benefit from neuropsychological rehabilitation programs even several months after disease onset.