Long-term complaints and quality of life among COVID-19 survivors in the Hail region; KSA

Abstract Background: The novel pandemic coronavirus (COVID-19) has rapidly disseminated and caused millions of coronavirus infections and deaths. Post-COVID-19 sequelae with particular systemic long-term complaints were defined and ultimately led to an impairment in health-related quality of life for a long time after recovery. Aim: This study aimed to determine the long-term complaints of COVID-19 survivors and their impact on their quality of life in the Hail region, KSA. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out with a random sample of 295 COVID-19 survivors to determine the long-term complaints of COVID-19 and its impact on quality of life in the Hail region. Long-term complaint data related to COVID-19 were collected viaa self-report questionnaire, while quality of life was measured via the EQ-5D scale. Results: More than half of the participants complained of fatigue (60%), followed by frequent headache (59%), loss of appetite (54.9%), arthralgia/myalgia (51%), cough (46%) and difficult breathing (36.9%). The overall quality of life was poor among survivors (M±SD 11.911± 3.760), while anxiety and depression were the most common. Thehealth-related quality of life was significantly related to activity, smoking status, fever, cough, fatigue, headache, duration of disease, level of help, and oxygen therapy (p< 0.05). Multiple linear regression revealed that marital status (p= 0.001), regular and irregular physical activity (p= 0.008 and 0.011), duration of hospitalization (p <0.011), and oxygen therapy (p <0.027) were the independent factors affecting quality of life post-COVID-19. Conclusion: Approximately two-thirds of the COVID-19 survivors experienced long-term complaints, while more than half of them experienced impaired quality of life. Therefore, health care facilities must establish prolonged care plans to improve health status and promote quality of life among COVID-19 survivors.