Long-term effects of Coronavirus 2 infection after intensive care: a prospective study

While the multi-organ manifestations of severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection are now well-documented, the potential long-term implications of these manifestations remain to be uncovered. The aim of the study was to study the level and predictors of post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression symptoms, quality of life and functional disability in COVID-19 survivors during the first year post Intensive Care Unit (ICU) discharge.

A prospective longitudinal study, reported following the STROBE guidance, was conducted in adult patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted to an Italian ICU from March 2020 to March 2021 who were followed until March 2022.

A total of 207 patients were included in the study, of which 145 (70.1%) were male. One hundred and six (51.2%) patients between six and 12 months after ICU discharge reported at least one physical or cognitive impairment. The concurrent prevalence of anxiety, depression and PTSD is present in 25/106 patients (23.6% of cases) at six months and increases in 29/106 patients (27.3% of cases) at 12 months. However, the prevalence of anxiety, depression and PTSD was observed in 86 patients (41.5%) at six months and it gets smaller in 78 patients (37.7%) at 12 months (P=0.049). The EqVAS score (58.8 vs. 72.3, P=0.017) and the Barthel Index (61.5 vs. 74.8, P<0.001) increased significantly between six and 12 months after ICU.

Our results show that functional and cognitive recovery improves between six and 12 months after ICU discharge with a high perception of the patients' quality of life. These results will help to inform health system planning and the development of multidisciplinary strategies to reduce chronic health loss among individuals with COVID-19.