Long-term self-reported health and disability after COVID-19 in public employees
Abstract Background Although the symptomatology has been assessed in multiple studies among persons recovering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), less is known regarding long-term general health and disability. We aimed to assess long-term self-reported disability in public employees after pr...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14820-3 |
| _version_ | 1797977187116122112 |
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| author | Linda Ashman Kröönström Johanna Krause Simon B. Larsson Robert Sigström Katharina Stibrant Sunnerhagen |
| author_facet | Linda Ashman Kröönström Johanna Krause Simon B. Larsson Robert Sigström Katharina Stibrant Sunnerhagen |
| author_sort | Linda Ashman Kröönström |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Although the symptomatology has been assessed in multiple studies among persons recovering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), less is known regarding long-term general health and disability. We aimed to assess long-term self-reported disability in public employees after predominantly mild COVID-19 in comparison with individuals who had negative COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results. Methods Public employees within Region Västra Götaland were offered tests to identify SARS-CoV-2 infection (n = 56,221) and were invited to complete an online survey that included the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule. Questionnaires were sent out between January 26 and March 5, 2021. A total of 14,222 (25.3%) employees responded, of which 10,194 (18%) were included (women n = 8749, 85.8%). Of these, 7185 (70.5%) participants had a negative PCR test result (controls). A total of 1425 (14%) had a positive PCR result and were categorized in the sub-acute phase (4–12 weeks post COVID-19), and 1584 (15.5%) had a positive PCR test and were categorized in the post COVID-19 phase (> 12 weeks). Results Fifty-two percent of controls rated disability of varying degrees, versus 73% and 64% of participants in the sub-acute and post COVID-19 phase, respectively. Being “emotionally affected” was the most frequently reported disability in the sub-acute phase, the post COVID-19 phase, as well as in controls. The proportion of participants reporting difficulties for 20–30 days was higher in the sub-acute phase than in the post COVID-19 phase (27.9% vs. 21.8%, p < 0.001) as well as in a comparison between participants in the post COVID-19 phase and controls (21.8% vs 14.2%, p < 0.001). Compared with controls, severe disability was more common in the post COVID-19 phase among both women (15.8% vs. 10.7%,), and men (9.8% vs. 6.8%). Conclusions Disability was present in all groups; however, reported disability was greater in the sub-acute phase than in the post COVID-19 phase. The higher levels of disability reported in the COVID-19 patient population may indicate a persisting need for rehabilitation and recovery. In general, women reported a greater degree of disability than men in the sub-acute and post COVID-19 phases. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:02:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3bb2c59532354bdca016271a7f86b08d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:02:57Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-3bb2c59532354bdca016271a7f86b08d2022-12-25T12:32:57ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582022-12-0122111110.1186/s12889-022-14820-3Long-term self-reported health and disability after COVID-19 in public employeesLinda Ashman Kröönström0Johanna Krause1Simon B. Larsson2Robert Sigström3Katharina Stibrant Sunnerhagen4Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of GothenburgInstitute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of GothenburgDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of GothenburgDepartment of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of GothenburgInstitute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of GothenburgAbstract Background Although the symptomatology has been assessed in multiple studies among persons recovering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), less is known regarding long-term general health and disability. We aimed to assess long-term self-reported disability in public employees after predominantly mild COVID-19 in comparison with individuals who had negative COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results. Methods Public employees within Region Västra Götaland were offered tests to identify SARS-CoV-2 infection (n = 56,221) and were invited to complete an online survey that included the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule. Questionnaires were sent out between January 26 and March 5, 2021. A total of 14,222 (25.3%) employees responded, of which 10,194 (18%) were included (women n = 8749, 85.8%). Of these, 7185 (70.5%) participants had a negative PCR test result (controls). A total of 1425 (14%) had a positive PCR result and were categorized in the sub-acute phase (4–12 weeks post COVID-19), and 1584 (15.5%) had a positive PCR test and were categorized in the post COVID-19 phase (> 12 weeks). Results Fifty-two percent of controls rated disability of varying degrees, versus 73% and 64% of participants in the sub-acute and post COVID-19 phase, respectively. Being “emotionally affected” was the most frequently reported disability in the sub-acute phase, the post COVID-19 phase, as well as in controls. The proportion of participants reporting difficulties for 20–30 days was higher in the sub-acute phase than in the post COVID-19 phase (27.9% vs. 21.8%, p < 0.001) as well as in a comparison between participants in the post COVID-19 phase and controls (21.8% vs 14.2%, p < 0.001). Compared with controls, severe disability was more common in the post COVID-19 phase among both women (15.8% vs. 10.7%,), and men (9.8% vs. 6.8%). Conclusions Disability was present in all groups; however, reported disability was greater in the sub-acute phase than in the post COVID-19 phase. The higher levels of disability reported in the COVID-19 patient population may indicate a persisting need for rehabilitation and recovery. In general, women reported a greater degree of disability than men in the sub-acute and post COVID-19 phases.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14820-3SARS-CoV-2COVID-19Post-acute COVID-19 syndromeRehabilitationDisabilityInternational Classification of Functioning |
| spellingShingle | Linda Ashman Kröönström Johanna Krause Simon B. Larsson Robert Sigström Katharina Stibrant Sunnerhagen Long-term self-reported health and disability after COVID-19 in public employees BMC Public Health SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome Rehabilitation Disability International Classification of Functioning |
| title | Long-term self-reported health and disability after COVID-19 in public employees |
| title_full | Long-term self-reported health and disability after COVID-19 in public employees |
| title_fullStr | Long-term self-reported health and disability after COVID-19 in public employees |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long-term self-reported health and disability after COVID-19 in public employees |
| title_short | Long-term self-reported health and disability after COVID-19 in public employees |
| title_sort | long term self reported health and disability after covid 19 in public employees |
| topic | SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome Rehabilitation Disability International Classification of Functioning |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-14820-3 |
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