Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.3325/cmj.2022.63.27
Risk factors and severity of functional impairment in long COVID: a single-center experience in Croatia
Marko Banić
; Clinic for Respiratory Diseases “Jordanovac,” University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Mateja Janković Makek
; Clinic for Respiratory Diseases “Jordanovac,” University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Miroslav Samaržija
; Clinic for Respiratory Diseases “Jordanovac,” University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Davorka Muršić
; Clinic for Respiratory Diseases “Jordanovac,” University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Zagorka Boras
; Clinic for Respiratory Diseases “Jordanovac,” University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Vesna Trkeš
; Clinic for Respiratory Diseases “Jordanovac,” University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Denis Baričević
; Clinic for Respiratory Diseases “Jordanovac,” University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Marta Koršić
; Clinic for Respiratory Diseases “Jordanovac,” University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Latinka Basara
; Clinic for Respiratory Diseases “Jordanovac,” University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Tajana Jalušić Glunčić
; Clinic for Respiratory Diseases “Jordanovac,” University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Andrea Vukić Dugac
orcid.org/0000-0002-1522-3325
; Clinic for Respiratory Diseases “Jordanovac,” University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Aim To determine the frequency of common symptoms
in long COVID and their effect on the quality of life, and to
determine the factors contributing to a more severe long
COVID.
Methods The study enrolled 266 patients who were either referred to long-COVID outpatient clinic or were inpatients undergoing rehabilitation. The data were collected
between December 2020 and May 2021. We evaluated the
symptoms experienced during acute and long COVID and
comorbidities. Functional status was assessed with Post
Covid Functional Status (PCFS).
Results The final sample consisted of 261 patients. After
acute COVID-19 period (>4 weeks), almost 80% of patients
had impaired functional status. Only 21.5% reported no
functional impairment (0 on PCFS scale). A higher PCFS
score was associated with female sex (P<0.001) and oxygen therapy requirement during acute disease (P=0.001).
However, it was not associated with having a pre-existing
lung disease (P=0.749). Disease severity did not pose a risk
for developing a more severe long COVID.
Conclusion Women were at greater risk for developing
greater functional impairment in long COVID, although we
have no explanation why. Malignant disease and hypertension also presented a risk factor for greater functional
impairment. More studies are warranted to determine if
patients with certain lung disease are more susceptible to
long COVID.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
278996
URI
Publication date:
17.2.2022.
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