Table 1. Descriptive characteristics of the study population.
| Population characteristics | Veterinarians (n = 76) | Q fever patients (n = 98) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| n (%) | n (%) | ||
| Median agea [IQR] | 50 [44.3–56.0] | 57.5 [50.8–66.0] | |
| Male gender | 55 (72.4) | 52 (53.1) | |
| Symptoms of acute Q feverb | 3 (4.2)f | 91 (92.9) | |
| Antibiotic treatment for Q fever >1 monthb | 0 (0.0)g | 30 (30.6) | |
| IgG phase I titer first sample | <1:1,024 | 57 (75.0) | 76 (77.6) |
| ≥1:1,024 | 19 (25.0) | 22 (22.4) | |
| Province of residence | Noord-Brabant (main epidemic area) | 10 (13.2) | 95 (96.9) |
| Other provinces | 66 (86.8) | 3 (3.1) | |
| Comorbidity | Cardiovascular comorbidityc | 0 (0.0) | 30 (30.9)g |
| Rheumatic disease | 1 (1.3) | 9 (9.2) | |
| Inflammatory bowel disease | 1 (1.3) | 0 (0.0) | |
| Diabetes | 2 (2.6) | 9 (9.2) | |
| Chronic kidney failure | 0 (0.0) | 2 (2.0) | |
| Cancer | 1 (1.3) | 9 (9.2) | |
| Use of medication past five years | Immunosuppressive medication | 1 (1.3) | 3 (3.1) |
| Cardiovascular medicationd | 5 (6.6) | 48 (49.0) | |
| EQ-5D scoree | Mobility: problems reported | 4 (5.3) | 31 (32.0)f |
| Self-care: problems reported | 0 (0.0) | 2 (2.1)f | |
| Usual activities: problems reported | 9 (12.0)f | 43 (43.9) | |
| Pain/discomfort: problems reported | 15 (19.7) | 49 (50.0) | |
| Anxiety/depression: problems reported | 8 (10.5) | 21 (21.4) | |
| Median VAS score current health status (range) | 83.5 (45–100)h | 70 (22–100) | |
| Fatigue measured by NCSI | Score <27 (normal) | 47 (70.1)i | 31 (33.0)j |
| Score 27–35 (mildly affected) | 12 (17.9)i | 14 (14.9)j | |
| Score >35 (severely affected) | 8 (11.9)i | 49 (52.1)j | |
EQ-5D: a standardized instrument for use as a measure of health outcome [19]; IQR: interquartile range; NCSI: Nijmegen Clinical Screening Instrument; VAS: visual analogue scale.
a Age at date of collection follow-up sample.
b Answered with ‘yes’ is shown, ‘no or unknown’ was answered by the remaining participants.
c Pathology of vessels (exclusion of hypertension and varices) or cardiac valves; myocardial infarction, percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary stent, bypass surgery or pacemaker.
d Antihypertensive agents, rhythm and rate control drugs, cholesterol-lowering medicines, anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents.
e EQ-5D score: score 2 and 3 (on a scale of 1–3) defined as problems reported.
f Information missing from five cases.
g Information missing from one case.
h Information missing from three cases.
i Information missing from seven cases.
j Information missing from four cases.