Psychological and Cognitive Functioning Among Patients Receiving Outpatient Rehabilitation for Post-COVID Sequelae: An Observational Study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2023 Jan;104(1):11-17
Date
10/07/2022Pubmed ID
36202227Pubmed Central ID
PMC9529350DOI
10.1016/j.apmr.2022.09.013Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85142481978 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 6 CitationsAbstract
OBJECTIVES: To describe the characteristics of individuals receiving outpatient rehabilitation for post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC). Further, to examine factors associated with variation in their psychological and cognitive functioning and health-related quality of life.
DESIGN: Observational study.
SETTING: Outpatient COVID-19 recovery clinic at a large, tertiary, urban health system in the US.
PARTICIPANTS: COVID-19 survivors with persistent sequelae (N=324).
INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Multivariable logistic and linear regression models were used to examine factors associated with COVID survivors' experience of severe anxiety, severe depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), cognitive impairment, and self-reported health-related quality of life.
RESULTS: About 38% of survivors seeking care for their persistent COVID symptoms suffered from severe anxiety, 31.8% from severe depression, 43% experiencing moderate to severe PTSD symptomology, and 17.5% had cognitive impairment. Their health-related quality of life was substantially lower than that of the general population (-26%) and of persons with other chronic conditions. Poor and African American/Black individuals experienced worse psychological and cognitive sequelae after COVID19 infection, even after controlling for age, sex, initial severity of the acute infection, and time since diagnosis.
CONCLUSIONS: Evidence of consistent disparities in outcomes by the patients' race and socioeconomic status, even among those with access to post-acute COVID rehabilitation care, are concerning and have significant implications for PASC policy and program development.
Author List
Abramoff BA, Dillingham TR, Brown LA, Caldera F, Caldwell KM, McLarney M, McGinley EL, Pezzin LEAuthors
Emily L. McGinley Biostatistician III in the Center for Advancing Population Science department at Medical College of WisconsinLiliana Pezzin PhD, JD Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
CognitionDisease Progression
Humans
Outpatients
Quality of Life
