A Longitudinal Description of the Health-Related Quality of Life Among Individuals at High Risk After SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Dutch Multicenter Observational Cohort Study - Report - MDSpire

A Longitudinal Description of the Health-Related Quality of Life Among Individuals at High Risk After SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Dutch Multicenter Observational Cohort Study

  • By

  • Magda Vergouwe

  • Emma Birnie

  • Sarah van Veelen

  • Jason J Biemond

  • Brent Appelman

  • Hessel Peters-Sengers

  • Godelieve J de Bree

  • Stephanie Popping

  • W Joost Wiersinga

  • on behalf of the

  • TURN-COVID Study Group

  • Matthijs R A Welkers

  • Frans J van Ittersum

  • Maarten F Schim van der Loeff

  • Marije K Bomers

  • Marie José Kersten

  • Mette D Hazenberg

  • Jarom Heijmans

  • Marc van der Valk

  • E Marleen Kemper

  • Marcel van den Berge

  • Heidi S M Ammerlaan

  • Marvin A H Berrevoets

  • Robbert J van Alphen

  • Renée A Douma

  • Eliane M S Leyten

  • Cees van Nieuwkoop

  • Rob J van Marum

  • Frits R Rosendaal

  • Mark G J de Boer

  • Astrid M L Oude Lashof

  • Marit G A van Vonderen

  • Jiri F P Wagenaar

  • Janneke E Stalenhoef

  • Frank van de Veerdonk

  • Robert-Jan Hassing

  • Robin Soetekouw

  • Hazra S Moeniralam

  • Frits van Osch

  • January 30, 2025

  • 0 min

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Longitudinal HRQoL Decline in High-Risk Individuals Post SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Overview

This Dutch multicenter cohort study evaluated health-related quality of life (HRQoL) over 12 months in 332 high-risk individuals following COVID-19. Results showed a significant decline in median HRQoL utility scores from pre-infection to 12 months post-infection, especially among solid organ transplant recipients and those requiring oxygen therapy. Nearly half of employed participants reported COVID-19-related sick leave, correlating with lower HRQoL.

Background

SARS-CoV-2 infection has caused widespread morbidity, with vulnerable populations such as immunocompromised patients at higher risk of severe disease and long COVID. Persistent symptoms can impair daily functioning and quality of life. While prior studies have documented HRQoL impairment in hospitalized patients, data on high-risk individuals including nonhospitalized patients remain limited. Understanding long-term HRQoL trajectories in these groups is critical for guiding preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Data Highlights

ParameterValue
Number of participants332
Median age (IQR)59.8 years (48.8–67.1)
Female participants50.6%
Hospitalized for COVID-19184 (55.4%)
ICU admission12.0%
Solid organ transplant recipients19.6%
Hematologic malignancies28.0%
Immunosuppressive medication use56.6%
Median HRQoL utility score pre–COVID-190.85 (IQR 0.74–1.00)
Median HRQoL utility score 12 months post–COVID-190.81 (IQR 0.70–0.92), P = .007
Employed participants reporting COVID-19 sick leave at 12 months45.3%
Median HRQoL utility score in employed with sick leave0.81 (IQR 0.72–0.91)
Median HRQoL utility score in employed without sick leave0.89 (IQR 0.86–1.00), P = .002

Key Findings

  • Median HRQoL utility score declined significantly from 0.85 pre–COVID-19 to 0.81 at 12 months post-infection (P = .007).
  • Solid organ transplant recipients and patients requiring oxygen therapy were at higher risk for sustained HRQoL decline over 1 year.
  • 55.4% of participants were hospitalized, with 12% requiring ICU admission.
  • Nearly half (45.3%) of employed participants reported COVID-19-related sick leave at 12 months.
  • Employed individuals reporting sick leave had significantly lower HRQoL scores than those without sick leave (0.81 vs 0.89, P = .002).
  • High-risk factors included immunosuppressive medication use (56.6%) and hematologic malignancies (28.0%).

Clinical Implications

Clinicians should recognize that high-risk patients, particularly solid organ transplant recipients and those needing oxygen therapy, may experience prolonged HRQoL impairment after COVID-19. Monitoring and supportive interventions targeting physical and mental health are warranted. Additionally, the substantial proportion of employed patients requiring sick leave highlights the socioeconomic impact and the need for workplace accommodations and preventive strategies.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates a persistent decline in HRQoL over 12 months post–COVID-19 in high-risk individuals, underscoring the ongoing burden of the disease in vulnerable populations. These findings support prioritizing preventive measures and tailored post-COVID care in these groups.

References

  1. Turn-COVID Study Group 2024 -- A Longitudinal Analysis of Health-Related Quality of Life in High-Risk Individuals Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Original Source(s)

A Longitudinal Description of the Health-Related Quality of Life Among Individuals at High Risk After SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Dutch Multicenter Observational Cohort Study

  • by Magda Vergouwe, Emma Birnie, Sarah van Veelen, Jason J Biemond, Brent Appelman, Hessel Peters-Sengers, Godelieve J de Bree, Stephanie Popping, W Joost Wiersinga, on behalf of the, TURN-COVID Study Group, Matthijs R A Welkers, Frans J van Ittersum, Maarten F Schim van der Loeff, Marije K Bomers, Marie José Kersten, Mette D Hazenberg, Jarom Heijmans, Marc van der Valk, E Marleen Kemper, Marcel van den Berge, Heidi S M Ammerlaan, Marvin A H Berrevoets, Robbert J van Alphen, Renée A Douma, Eliane M S Leyten, Cees van Nieuwkoop, Rob J van Marum, Frits R Rosendaal, Mark G J de Boer, Astrid M L Oude Lashof, Marit G A van Vonderen, Jiri F P Wagenaar, Janneke E Stalenhoef, Frank van de Veerdonk, Robert-Jan Hassing, Robin Soetekouw, Hazra S Moeniralam, Frits van Osch

  • January 30, 2025

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