Longitudinal study of changes observed in quality of life, psychological state cognition and pulmonary and functional capacity after COVID‐19 infection: A six‐ to seven‐month prospective cohort

Abstract

Aims: To investigate the health‐related quality of life (HRQoL), symptoms, psychological and cognitive state and pulmonary and physical function of nonhospitalised COVID‐19 patients at long‐term, and to identify factors to predict a poor HRQoL in this follow‐up. Background: Studies have focused on persistent symptoms of hospitalised COVID‐19 patients in the medium term. Thus, long‐term studies of nonhospitalised patients are urgently required. Design: A longitudinal cohort study. Methods: In 102 nonhospitalised COVID‐19 patients, we collected symptoms at 3 months (baseline) and at 6–7 months (follow‐up) from diagnosis (dyspnoea, fatigue/muscle weakness and chest/joint pain), HRQoL, psychological state, cognitive function, pulmonary and physical function. This study adhered to the STROBE statement. Results: HRQoL was impaired in almost 60% of the sample and remained impaired 6–7 months. At 3 months, more than 60% had impaired physical function (fatigue/muscle weakness and reduced leg and inspiratory muscle strength). About 40%–56% of the sample showed an altered psychological state (post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety/depression), cognitive function impairment and dyspnoea. At 6–7‐months, only a slight improvement in dyspnoea and physical and cognitive function was observed, with a very high proportion of the sample (29%–55%) remained impaired. Impaired HRQoL at 6–7 months was predicted with 82.4% accuracy (86.7% sensitivity and 83.3% specificity) by the presence at 3 months of muscle fatigue/muscle weakness (OR = 5.7 (1.8–18.1)), PTSD (OR = 6.0 (1.7–20.7)) and impaired HRQoL (OR = 11.7 (3.7–36.8)). Conclusion: A high proportion of nonhospitalised patients with COVID‐19 experience an impaired HRQoL, cognitive and psychological function at long‐term. HRQoL, PTSD and dyspnoea at 3 months can identify the majority of patients with COVID‐19 who will have impaired quality of life at long‐term.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Relevance to clinical practice</jats:title><jats:p>Treatments aimed at improving psychological state and reducing the fatigue/muscle weakness of post‐COVID‐19 patients could be necessary to prevent the patients’ HRQoL from being impaired at 6–7 months after their reported recovery.