Severe Post-COVID-19 Condition after Mild Infection: Physical and Mental Health Eight Months Post Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study

Marion Egger (), Lena Vogelgesang, Judith Reitelbach, Jeannine Bergmann, Friedemann Müller and Klaus Jahn
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Marion Egger: Research Group, Department of Neurology, Schoen Clinic Bad Aibling, 83043 Bad Aibling, Germany
Lena Vogelgesang: Research Group, Department of Neurology, Schoen Clinic Bad Aibling, 83043 Bad Aibling, Germany
Judith Reitelbach: Research Group, Department of Neurology, Schoen Clinic Bad Aibling, 83043 Bad Aibling, Germany
Jeannine Bergmann: Research Group, Department of Neurology, Schoen Clinic Bad Aibling, 83043 Bad Aibling, Germany
Friedemann Müller: Research Group, Department of Neurology, Schoen Clinic Bad Aibling, 83043 Bad Aibling, Germany
Klaus Jahn: Research Group, Department of Neurology, Schoen Clinic Bad Aibling, 83043 Bad Aibling, Germany

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 21, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Severe acute COVID-19 infections requiring intensive care treatment are reported risk factors for the development of post-COVID-19 conditions. However, there are also individuals suffering from post-COVID-19 symptoms after mild infections. Therefore, we aimed to describe and compare the health status of patients who were initially not hospitalized and patients after critical illness due to COVID-19. The outcome measures included health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L, visual analogue scale (VAS)); mental health (hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS)); general disability (WHODAS-12); and fatigue (Fatigue-Severity-Scale-7). Individuals were recruited at Schoen Clinic Bad Aibling, Germany. A total of 52 non-hospitalized individuals (47 ± 15 years, 64% female, median 214 days post-infection) and 75 hospitalized individuals (61 ± 12 years, 29% female, 235 days post-infection) were analyzed. The non-hospitalized individuals had more fatigue (87%) and anxiety (69%) and a decreased health-related quality of life (VAS 47 ± 20) compared to the hospitalized persons (fatigue 45%, anxiety 43%, VAS 57 ± 21; p < 0.010). Severe disability was observed in one third of each group. A decreased quality of life and disability were more pronounced in the females of both groups. After adjusting for confounding, hospitalization did not predict the burden of symptoms. This indicates that persons with post-COVID-19 conditions require follow-up services and treatments, independent of the severity of the acute infection.

Keywords: COVID-19; post-acute COVID-19 syndrome; critical illness; neurological rehabilitation; quality of life; fatigue; mental health; patient reported outcome measures; hospitalization; intensive care units (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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