Long COVID and Health-Related Quality of Life of Mild Cases in Korea: 3-Months Follow-up of a Single Community Treatment Center

Abstract

Background: SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) survivors mount as the pandemic continues. To date, studies on persistent symptoms and their effect on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in mild COVID-19 cases have been limited.

Methods: A prospective online survey was conducted in COVID-19 patients who were admitted to Seongnam Community Treatment Center, an isolation center in South Korea, from November 23rd 2021 to January 2nd 2022. Patients above the age of 19 with no or mild symptoms were included in the study. Total of 147 patients returned to the follow-up survey 3 months after discharge. Baseline demographics, clinical characteristics, symptoms, and EuroQol-5 dimensions-5 levels (EQ-5D-5L) measures were investigated.

Results: The median (interquartile range [IQR]) interval period between the initial and follow-up survey was 96.0 (93.0-98.0) days. The median (IQR) age of participants was 51.0 (43.0-61.0). During isolation, 131 (89.1%) patients manifested symptoms. On follow-up, 82 (55.8%) participants remained symptomatic. Common symptoms were constitutional (fatigue, myalgia), neurological (memory impairment, hyposmia, hypogeusia, dizziness), and neuropsychiatric (anxiety) symptoms. Symptomatic survivors reported lower HRQoL compared to asymptomatic survivors. No factors other than long COVID were identified to be relevant to diminished HRQoL. Constitutional, cardiopulmonary, neurological, and neuropsychiatric symptoms were significantly associated with low HRQoL.

Conclusion: 55.8% of mild COVID-19 survivors remained symptomatic. Constitutional, cardiopulmonary, neurological, and neuropsychiatric symptoms at follow-up were significantly associated with low HRQoL. Observations of long-term symptoms of COVID-19 with decline in HRQoL and integrated research in COVID-19 survivors are warranted.

서론: 성남 생활치료센터에 입소한 경증 COVID-19 환자들을 대상으로 3개월 후 추적관찰을 통해 COVID-19으로 인해 지속되는 증상과 그로 인한 건강 관련 삶의 질의 저하 유무에 대해 알아보고자 하였다.

방법: 2021년 11월 23일부터 2022년 1월 2일까지 성남 생활치료센터에 입소한 19세 이상의 COVID-19 환자들을 대상으로 온라인 설문조사를 시행하였다. 총 147명의 참여자가 입소 당시 그리고 3개월 후 추적 조사에 임하였다. 기본 인구 통계, 임상적 특성, 증상 및 EuroQol-5D-5L을 조사하였다.

결과: 55.8%의 환자가 long COVID를 호소하였으며 피로, 기억력 감퇴, 후각 저하, 불안, 근육통, 미각 저하, 어지럼증이 가장 많았다. Long COVID가 있는 경우, 없는 경우보다 낮은 건강 관련 삶의 질의 점수와 연관이 있는 것으로 나타났다. Long COVID의 증상 중에서는 전신, 심혈관 및 호흡기계, 신경계, 그리고 신경정신과적 증상이 낮은 건강 관련 삶의 질 점수와 연관되었다.

결론: 경증 COVID-19 환자들의 55.8%에서 long COVID가 있는 것으로 나타났으며 long COVID가 있는 경우, 없는 경우보다 건강 관련 삶의 질이 낮았다.