Quality of Life and Functional Status in Individuals with Persistent Post-COVID Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional...

Background and Objectives: Post-COVID-19 condition (PCC, long COVID) is associated with persistent symptoms and marked reductions in health-related quality of life (HRQoL), but real-world data on rehabilitation and everyday functioning remain limited. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional online survey conducted between 15 April and 15 May 2024, we analysed 406 adults (308 women; mean age 36.0 ± 12.1 years) with ongoing post-COVID symptoms recruited from two moderator-supervised support communities. The questionnaire included sociodemographic and clinical items, the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and the Post-COVID-19 Functional Status (PCFS) scale. Participants indicated whether they had completed any form of rehabilitation targeting post-COVID problems (yes/no). Group differences were examined using Welch's t-test, Mann-Whitney U and χ² tests, as appropriate. Multiple linear regression models with Bonferroni correction were used to explore associations between rehabilitation status, age, sex, symptom duration and outcomes. Results: Overall, 182 respondents (44.8%) reported rehabilitation and 224 (55.2%) did not. The groups did not differ significantly in age, sex distribution, BMI, number of infections, symptom duration or hospitalisation history. Most SF-36 domains, component summaries and PCFS differed significantly between groups, with small-to-large effects favouring respondents who reported rehabilitation. The largest effect sizes were observed for Vitality and Mental Health, whereas Physical Functioning showed no clear difference. In multivariable models, older age and longer symptom duration were consistently associated with poorer HRQoL, while rehabilitation status remained a robust correlate of better scores in several SF-36 domains, both component summaries, perceived health, and lower PCFS grades after correction for multiple testing. Conclusions: Although the cross-sectional design, self-reported data and non-standardised rehabilitation exposure preclude causal inference, the findings highlight the substantial HRQoL and functional burden of long COVID and suggest that, within a symptomatic population, reported completion of rehabilitation is positively associated with multiple aspects of everyday health and functioning.