Follow-up of hospitalized patients diagnosed with COVID-19 after recovery from the acute episode: COVID-19 registry (NCT04347278)

ABSTRACT

Objective: To assess the quality of life perceived by patients after recovery from COVID-19 in a period of time between 6 and 12 months after hospital discharge. Material and/or methods: Prospective observational study, IDI-REM-2020 code and EUPAS34551 registration, non-interventional, telephone survey from 6 months after discharge date. Health questionnaire consisted of 13 questions covering 8 dimensions (physical functioning, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning and emotional role). Results: Out of 250 patients included and hospitalized in the first wave of the pandemic, from March to April 2020, 161 patients were surveyed. As for the data recorded at the beginning of the questionnaire general health was fair or poor in 39.8% of respondents and in the rest there was no impact. Social activities had no impact in 39% of the respondents, and only 26.3% had appreciable impact. As for bodily pain, although it did not hinder the usual work in 83.6% of the respondents, in the rest it was a major limitation. Emotional problems affected daily activity in 29.4% of cases. After suffering COVID infection, 50.3% of the participants indicated that their health worsened while in 45.9% it remained the same or even improved in 3.1% of the participants. Conclusions: The quality of life questionnaire is essential to complete a clinical data registry and to understand whether COVID-19 infection is affecting health in the months following infection. In this cohort of patients, a negative impact on health was seen in half of the patients followed.