Twentymonths follow-up in non-hospitalised adults with post COVID-19 condition: a preliminary longitudinal cohort study

Background: Persistent symptoms and impairments occur afterboth severe and mild COVID-19 infection. Studies have focused on follow-up people after hospitalisation, however studies in non-hospitalised people are warranted. The aim was to evaluate long-term impact on physical function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in non-hospitalised adults with post COVID-19 condition.
Method: Preliminary results from assessment in non-hospitalised adults (n=51), with ≥ 3 months of persistent symptoms after infection, was performed at Karolinska University Hospital. Baseline assessment was performed in median 9 months after illness onset and follow-up at 20 monthsafter illness onset. Assessments consisted of dynamic spirometryto measure lung function, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) to measure inspiratory muscle function, 6-minute walk test (6MWT), mMRC dyspnoea scale (0-4, higher number indicates more dyspnoea) and HRQoL (EQ5D VAS: 0-100).
Results: Mean age was 42 years (SD:10,8) and 92 % were women. Prior to infection 82 % worked and at baseline 47 % were on full-time sick leave compared to 33 % at follow-up. Median BMI was 25 (IQR: 5,6), 16 % had asthma and 35 % were smokers or former smokers.Improvements between baseline and follow-up were seen in 6MWT (75 % vs 82 % of predicted distance, p<0.05), MIP (81 % vs 95 % of predicted, p<0.05) and mMRC (3 vs 2, p<0.05). HRQoL was impaired and unchanged (mean EQ VAS: 34 vs 39). Lung function,expressedas percent of predicted, was normal and unchanged (FEV1: 85 % vs 88 %, FVC: 88 vs 89 %).
Conclusions: Preliminary results indicate that although physical function improved to some degree, long-term impairments in physical function and HRQoL remained 20 months after COVID-19 infection. Finding underlying causes and individualised rehabilitation to improve these impairments are urgently needed.