Predicting Long-Term Health-Related Quality of Life in Individuals With Prior SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A 12-Month...

To identify predictors of clinically meaningful declines in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among COVID-19 patients over a 12-month period in a prospective, natural history investigation.

We conducted a longitudinal study involving individuals who had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, assessing various factors and their impact on HRQoL after 12 months. Key potential predictors examined included demographic information, medical history, and symptom reporting. HRQoL was measured using the validated EuroQoL Dimension 5 level scale at baseline and at the 12-month follow-up.

The analysis revealed that shortness of breath, a diagnosis of COPD, lower BMI, and a history of anxiety at the initial visit were all significantly associated with clinically meaningful worsening of HRQoL at 12 months. Specifically, individuals with these factors experienced more pronounced declines in HRQoL compared to those without. Notably, the small number of COPD cases within our sample (4 total) limited the reliability of this predictor.

Shortness of breath, lower BMI, and a history of anxiety are important predictors of deteriorated HRQoL in COVID-19 patients over the long term. Although the association with COPD is less reliable due to sample size limitations, these findings highlight the need for targeted interventions and continued support for patients exhibiting these risk factors to improve long-term HRQoL outcomes. Future research with larger samples is needed to confirm these results and further investigate the role of these factors in post-COVID HRQoL declines.