Health-Related Quality of Life in Survivors of Severe COVID-19 of a University Hospital in Northern Portugal

Authors

  • Joana Fernandes Intensive Care Medicine Department. Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João. Porto. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5402-242X
  • Liliana Fontes Intensive Care Medicine Department. Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João. Porto.
  • Isabel Coimbra Intensive Care Medicine Department. Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João. Porto.
  • José Artur Paiva Intensive Care Medicine Department. Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João. Porto. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4323-0220

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.16277

Keywords:

COVID-19, Critical Care, Follow-up Studies, Portugal, Quality of Life, Survivors

Abstract

Introduction: Long-term health impairments are often experienced among survivors of critical illness, which may have a negative impact on their quality of life. The aim of this study was to characterize COVID-19 survivors of critical illness and to evaluate health-related quality of life and disability following hospital discharge.
Material and Methods: This is a retrospective case-series study that included COVID-19 survivors admitted to the Intensive Care Medicine Department of a University Hospital. Follow-up evaluation was performed between the 30th and the 90th day after discharge. Quality of life was explored using the five-level version of the EQ-5D instrument (EQ-5D-5L) and functionality using the 12-question World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0).
Results: Forty-five survivors were enrolled, 28 (62.2%) men, median age 63.0 years. The EQ-5D-5L questionnaire showed moderate to extreme problems in some dimension in 29 patients (64.4%): mobility in six (13.3%), self-care in seven (13.3%), usual activities in 23 (51.1%), pain/discomfort in 14 (31.1%) and anxiety/depression in 17 (37.8%). When using the 12-question WHODAS 2.0 questionnaire, moderate to extreme disability was reported in some question in 37 patients (82.2%): 19 (42.2%) in standing for long periods, 18 (40.0%) in long-distance walking; 14 (31.1%) on taking care of household responsibilities and 17 (37.8%) in their day-to-day work; 23 (51.1%) felt emotionally affected by their health problems.
Discussion: Based on COVID-19 survivors-reported outcomes after critical illness, mobility, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression were the main problems that persisted one to three months after hospital discharge.
Conclusion: An organized follow-up structure is crucial to improve health-related quality of life in critical COVID-19 survivors.

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Published

2021-08-31

How to Cite

1.
Fernandes J, Fontes L, Coimbra I, Paiva JA. Health-Related Quality of Life in Survivors of Severe COVID-19 of a University Hospital in Northern Portugal. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2021 Aug. 31 [cited 2024 Nov. 3];34(9):601-7. Available from: https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/16277

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Section

Original