ABSTRACT
Background: Reports of long-lasting symptoms after covid-19 have raised serious concerns. Specifically, fatigue seems to be a predominant symptom after hospitalization with Covid-19. Aims and objectives: To investigate the burden of fatigue after hospitalization with Covid-19. Method(s): Patients hospitalized with PCR-proven Covid-19 in Central Denmark Region were invited for follow-up 3-6 months after discharge. Assessment included self-reported symptoms, Fatigue Assessment Score (FAS), and pulmonary function test (PFT) with registration of percent predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1%) and diffusion capacity (DLCO%). Basic characteristics from hospitalization were registered. Result(s): Among 218 patients (median age 59.9, 59% males) median FAS score was 24.0 (IQR 18.0-32.0). Patients were subdivided into three categories based on disease severity;Group A: Patients without oxygen (n=57), Group B: Patients requiring oxygen therapy at the ward (n=120) and Group C: patients admitted at ICU (n=41). Group A had a median length of hospital stay of 1.0 day (IQR 0.0-2.0), which was significantly shorter than Group B (5 days, p<0.05) and Group C (23 days, p<0.05). Fatigue was most common in group A: 52% reported mild-to-moderate fatigue and 25% reported severe fatigue. In contrast, severe fatigue was reported by 16% in Group B and 14% in Group C. Median FEV1% was 106.0% (94.0-112.0), DLCO% 89.5% (IQR 77.5-98.0) in Group A. Median DLCO% was significantly lower in Group B (83.0%, p<0.05) and in Group C (70.0%, p<0.05). Conclusion(s): Significant fatigue is frequent after hospitalization with Covid-19 and associated to short length of hospital stay and normal lung function tests.
ABSTRACT
Background: SARS-CoV-2 virus, causing Covid-19, continues to be a public health concern. Long-term sequela after infection with Covid-19 has been reported worldwide and holds the risk of becoming a major health concern. Ongoing symptoms more than 3 months after infection is now defined as long Covid. Fatigue and psychological distress are among the most common symptoms in long Covid. Aim: To investigate severe fatigue and psychological distress after hospitalization in patients with Covid-19. Methods: Patients hospitalized with Covid-19 in the Central Denmark Region were invited for follow-up 3- 6 months after discharge. Psychological distress was measured by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) with a HADS score ≥8 identifying cases of anxiety and depression in the two subdomains. Fatigue was assessed using Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) with a FAS ≥35 indicating severe fatigue. Basic characteristics from the hospitalization were registered. Results: A total of 218 patients (mean age 59.9 (95% CI 58.2, 61.7), 59% men) reported a mean HADS of 7.9 (95% CI 6.95, 8.93). Cases of anxiety and depression were found in 23 and 16% of all patients, respectively. Overall, a mean FAS of 25.6 (95% CI 24.3, 26.9) was found with 34 patients (18%) reporting severe fatigue. Patients with severe fatigue (mean age of 54.2 (95% CI 50.3, 58.1), 47% males), cases of anxiety and depression was reported by 59 and 62%, respectively. Analyses of FAS in subdomains on mental and physical fatigue showed mean scores of 19.3 (95% CI 18.5, 20.2) and 20.6 (95% CI 19.8, 21.5), respectively. Conclusion: Severe fatigue is common after hospitalization in patients with Covid-19 and includes both mental and physical fatigue. In addition, cases of anxiety and depression are common in patients with severe fatigue.