Cited by 179Long-Term Effects of COVID-19COVID-19 Clinical Research StudiesCOVID-19 and Mental Health

Residual clinical damage after COVID-19: a retrospective and prospective observational cohort study

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De Lorenzo, Rebecca, Conte, Caterina, Lanzani, Chiara, Benedetti, Francesco, Roveri, Luisa, Mazza, Mario G., Brioni, Elena, Giacalone, Giacomo +13 more·2020·PLoS ONE

Abstract

Data on residual clinical damage after Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) are lacking. The aims of this study were to investigate whether COVID-19 leaves behind residual dysfunction, and identify patients who might benefit from post-discharge monitoring. All patients aged ≥18 years admitted to the Emergency Department (ED) for COVID-19, and evaluated at post-discharge follow-up between 7 April and 7 May, 2020, were enrolled. Primary outcome was need of follow-up, defined as the presence at follow-up of at least one among: respiratory rate (RR) >20 breaths/min, uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) requiring therapeutic change, moderate to very severe dyspnoea, malnutrition, or new-onset cognitive impairment, according to validated scores. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) served as secondary outcome. 185 patients were included. Median [interquartile range] time from hospital discharge to follow-up was 23 [20-29] days. 109 (58.9%) patients needed follow-up. At follow-up evaluation, 58 (31.3%) patients were dyspnoeic, 41 (22.2%) tachypnoeic, 10 (5.4%) malnourished, 106 (57.3%) at risk for malnutrition. Forty (21.6%) patients had uncontrolled BP requiring therapeutic change, and 47 (25.4%) new-onset cognitive impairment. PTSD was observed in 41 (22.2%) patients. At regression tree analysis, the ratio of arterial oxygen partial pressure to fractional inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2) and body mass index (BMI) at ED presentation, and age emerged as independent predictors of the need of follow-up. Patients with PaO2/FiO2 <324 and BMI ≥33 Kg/m2 had the highest odds to require follow-up. Among hospitalised patients, age ≥63 years, or age <63 plus non-invasive ventilation or diabetes identified those with the highest probability to need follow-up. PTSD was independently predicted by female gender and hospitalisation, the latter being protective (odds ratio, OR, 4.03, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.76 to 9.47, p 0.0011; OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.92, p 0.033, respectively). COVID-19 leaves behind physical and psychological dysfunctions. Follow-up programmes should be implemented for selected patients.

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Authors
De Lorenzo, R., Conte, C., Lanzani, C., Benedetti, F., Roveri, L., Mazza, M. G., Brioni, E., Giacalone, G., Canti, V., Sofia, V., D’Amico, M., Di Napoli, D., Ambrosio, A., Scarpellini, P., Castagna, A., Landoni, G., Zangrillo, A., Bosi, E., Tresoldi, M., Ciceri, F., & Rovere-Querini, P.
Affiliations
  • Vita-Salute San Raffaele University (IT)
  • IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele (IT)
Venue
PLoS ONE
Published
2020-10-14
Volume
15
Issue
10
Pages
e0239570
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3092984339
Cited by
179
References
46
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 64 · 2021: 56 · 2020: 1
FWCI
15.58
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Informationszentrum Lebenswissenschaften (ZB MED) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Archivio Istituzionale della Ricerca - Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Long-Term Effects of COVID-19
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › COVID-19 and Mental Health
Keywords
COVID-19 pandemic, long COVID, post-discharge follow-up, dyspnea, tachypnea, malnutrition, uncontrolled hypertension, post-traumatic stress disorder, PaO2/FiO2 ratio, body mass index, emergency department
MeSH terms
COVID-19, Aftercare, Aged, Dyspnea, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Pneumonia, Viral, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Coronavirus Infections, Malnutrition, Pandemics, Cognitive Dysfunction

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