Residual Symptoms and Quality of Life After Treated Lyme Neuroborreliosis: Case-Control Study (QoLYME)

Earlier studies revealed that 10%-50% of patients reported remaining complaints after treatment for Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB). The aim of our study was to assess symptoms and quality of life in patients with diagnosed and treated LNB and to compare them with findings in the general population.

Adults with LNB receiving adequate antibiotics were included between 2015 and 2021 in 2 tertiary hospitals. Two controls without Lyme borreliosis history were included for each case patient, matched by age and geographic area. All participants were interviewed to answer a standardized questionnaire. Fatigue was assessed by the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and quality of life by the 12-Item Short Form Survey, including physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores.

Fifty-three patients and 104 controls were included. The mean age (SD) was 62 (13) years in both groups; 66% were male in the LNB group and 44% in the control group (P = .01). Fatigue (68% vs 48%, respectively; P = .02), memory disorders (60% vs 38%; P < .01), and attention disorders (32% vs 17%; P = .05) were significantly more frequent in the LNB group than in controls. In multivariable analysis, no association was found between LNB and FSS scores (odds ratio, 1.6 [95% confidence interval, .9-3.0]; P = .15) or between LNB and MCS scores (0.8 [.4-1.5]; P = .45); however, patients with LNB had lower PCS scores (0.5 [.3-.9]; P = .03).

Several symptoms were similar in patients with LNB and controls. Quality of life was slightly impaired in patients with LNB and PCS scores were lower, but there were no differences in MCS or FSS scores. Reassurance and specific rehabilitation measures could be provided to these patients.