Publication date: Jun 24, 2025
This study aimed to evaluate the impact of post-COVID syndrome across a multitude of health domains among COVID-19 survivors via comparative analysis in previously hospitalized vs. non-hospitalized patients. A total of 158 adult COVID survivors who had symptoms that continued during post-COVID recovery were included in this prospective observational study. Data on handgrip strength, the 1-minute sit-to-stand test (1-MSTST), radiological scoring (CXR), Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnea, Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS), International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Post-COVID-19 Functional Status, Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale, and Short Form Health Survey 36 (SF-36) health-related quality of life (SF-36 HRQoL) were recorded. Post-COVID 1st-month data revealed dyspnea (MRC scale ≥2 in 57. 0% of patients) and fatigue (FAS scores ≥22 in 55. 7%), a decrease in handgrip strength (60. 0%) and physical activity (60. 0%), poor HRQoL (SF-36 general health score ≤50 in 61. 4%), and radiological disease progression (CXR score ≥3 in 56. 8%) in at least half of patients, along with depression (34. 8%) or anxiety (43. 7%). Post-COVID 6th-month values for fat-free mass index (p=0. 008, respectively), 1-MSTST recovery time (p=0. 012), and 3rd-month CXR scores (p=0. 024) were significantly higher, and 3rd-month SF-36 social functioning domain scores (p=0. 026) were significantly lower in previously hospitalized vs. non-admitted patients. In conclusion, our findings indicate a diverse range of impairments in several health domains in COVID-19 survivors, while radiological disease progression and functional limitations were more remarkable in those with previous hospitalization. A comprehensive assessment of health status and persisting rehabilitation needs is necessary in COVID-19 survivors, regardless of disease severity.
| Concepts | Keywords |
|---|---|
| 3rd | Comparative |
| Covid | Covid |
| Hospitalization | Cxr |
| Month | Domains |
| Survivors | Hospitalized |
| Month | |
| Multitude | |
| P=0 | |
| Patients | |
| Post | |
| Radiological | |
| Scores | |
| Sf | |
| Survivors | |
| Syndrome |
Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| disease | MESH | syndrome |
| disease | MESH | COVID-19 |
| disease | MESH | dyspnea |
| disease | MESH | Functional Status |
| disease | MESH | Anxiety |
| disease | MESH | Depression |
| disease | IDO | quality |
| disease | MESH | general health |
| disease | MESH | disease progression |
| disease | MESH | Long Covid |