TABLE 2: HRQoL between post-COVID-19 patients and the general population (n=6).
| Study | Sample characteristics | Objective related to HRQoL | Instrument | Follow-up | Outcomes | Methodological quality | Overall quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chen et al., 2020 | n=361 post-COVID-19 patients one month after hospital discharge (mean 47.22 years, SD 13.03; 51.5% males; 9.4% severe cases; mean length of stay of 19.13 days, SD 7.60 days). | To verify the difference in HRQoL between post-COVID-19 patients one month after hospital discharge and healthy Chinese individuals and to identify the determinants of HRQoL in post-COVID-19 patients | SF-36 | 1 month after hospital discharge | All SF-36 domains were reduced in post-COVID-19 patients when compared to the healthy Chinese population, with the exception of the score in the physical functioning domain. In the physical functioning domain, there was no difference between male post-COVID-19 patients and male Chinese general population (mean 95.13, SD 9.11 versus 95.60, SD 10.43, respectively; p=0.43), and between female post-COVID-19 patients and female Chinese general population (mean 93.17, SD 10.26 versus 92.57, SD 13.88, respectively; p=0.41). | Selection (★★★) Comparability (★) Outcome (★★) Total score: 6/10* | High quality |
| Gamberini et al,. 2021 | n=205 patients with post-COVID-19 after intensive care unit discharge [( median age of 63 years (55 to 70 years), 74.1% males), median length of hospital stay was 42 days (Q1-Q3: 31 to 57 days). | To evaluate the HRQoL at 90 days after intensive care unit discharge and to verify the factors related to HRQoL. | 15D | 3 months after intensive care unit discharge | The 15D score was significantly lower in patients admitted at intensive care unit (mean 0.850, SD 0.143) than the two matched controls from Italian (mean 0.929, SD 0.809) and Finnish (mean 0.914, SD 0.084) samples of the general population (p<0.001 for both). | Selection (★★★) Comparability (★) Exposure (★★★) Total score: 7/9 | High quality |
| Gianella et al., 2021 | n=39 consecutive patients with post-COVID-19-related pneumonia [median 62.5 (Q1-Q3: 51.3 to 71.0 years; 76.9% males; median length of stay 15.0 (Q1-Q3:12.0 to 22.0 days)] | To verify the HRQoL after 3 months of follow-up and compare the HRQoL between groups with and without improvements on chest computed tomography. | SF-12 and SGRQ | 3 months after hospital admission | The score evaluated by both SGRQ and SF-12 was significantly worse in post-Covid-related pneumonia patients (mean 16.97 and 30.97, respectively) when compared to the general population (reference values are 6 and 50, respectively) (p<0.0001). | Selection (★★★) Comparability (-) Exposure (★★★) Total score: 6/9 | Low quality |
| Qu et al., 2021 | n=540 patients with post-COVID-19, in a multicenter Chinese study, [median age of 47.50 years (Q1-Q3: 37.0 to 57 years), 50.0% females, 90.4% with mild to moderate severity]. | To compare the HRQoL of patients with COVID-19 after hospital discharge with general Chinese population and to verify the determinants of HRQoL after COVID-19. | SF-36 | 3 months after hospital discharge. | The mean of SF-36 scores in the post-COVID-19 patients and in the Chinese population were, respectively: Physical functioning: 87.17, SD 14.57 versus 94.02, SD 12.44 (p<0.001); Role physical: 66.30, SD 41.04 versus 88.79, SD 28.49 (p<0.001); Bodily pain: 79.48, SD 20.73 versus 88.18, SD 19.02 (p<0.001); General heath: 68.90, SD 22.16 versus 69.74, SD 20.95 (p=0.393); Vitality: 55.35, SD 14.58 versus 68.92, SD 18.78 (p<0.001); Social functioning: 66.41, SD 24.51 versus 88.03, SD 16.00 (p<0.001); Role emotional: 71.30, SD 38.70 versus 89.57, SD 27.95 (p<0.001); Mental health: 22.86, SD 14.00 versus 77.61, SD 15.85 (p<0.001) | Selection (★★★) Comparability (★★) Exposure (★★★) Total score: 8/9 | High quality |
| Raman et al., 2021 | n=58 patients with post-COVID-19 [mean 55 years, SD 13, 59% males, median length of stay of 8.5 days (Q1-Q3: 5.0 to 17.0 days)] and 30 uninfected individuals matched for age, sex, body mass index and risk factors (smoking, diabetes and hypertension) from the community (during the same period). | To compare the HRQoL of post-COVID-19 patients with uninfected individuals. | SF-36 | From 2 to 3 months from disease-onset. | The median of SF-36 scores in the post-COVID-19 patients and in uninfected individuals were, respectively: Physical functioning: 65.0, Q1-Q3: 45.0 to 90.0 versus 92.5, Q1-Q3: 83.8 to 100.0 (p<0.001); Role physical: 25.0, Q1-Q3: 0.0 to 75.0 versus 100.0, Q1-Q3: 100.0 to 100.0 (p<0.001); Role emotional: 33.3, Q1-Q3: 0.0 to 100.0 versus 100.0, Q1-Q3: 100.0 to 100.0 (p<0.001); Vitality: 45.0, Q1-Q3: 25.0 to 70.0 versus 65.0, Q1-Q3: 55.0 to 80.0 (p<0.001); Mental health: 76.0, Q1-Q3: 62.0 to 88.0 versus 84.0, Q1-Q3: 72.0 to 92.9 (p=0.044); Social functioning: 50.0, Q1-Q3: 37.5 to 87.5 versus 100.0, Q1-Q3: 62.5 to 100.0 (p<0.001); Bodily pain: 67.5, Q1-Q3: 35.0 to 90.0 versus 85.0, Q1-Q3: 67.5 to 100.0 (p=0.003); General heath: 68.8, Q1-Q3: 43.8 to 81.3 versus 75.0, Q1-Q3: 60.9 to 87.5 (p=0.022). | Selection (★★★) Comparability (★★) Exposure (★★★) Total score: 8/9 | High quality |
| van der Sar-van der Brugge et al., 2021 | n=101 participants after COVID-19-related pneumonia (mean 66.4 years, SD 12.6, 57.4% males, 72.3% after severe pneumonia). | To compare the HRQoL of patients after COVID-19-related pneumonia with the general Dutch population. | SF-36 | 6 weeks after hospital discharge. | When compared to general Dutch population, impaired HRQoL was found in almost all domains of the SF-36, except for bodily pain. The domains with the greatest commitment were physical role limitation, physical functioning and vitality. | Selection (★★) Comparability (★★) Exposure (★★★) Total score: 7/9 | High quality |
Abbreviations: HRQoL: health-related quality of life; SF-36: 36-items Short-Form Health Survey; SF-12: 12-items Short-Form Health Survey; SGRQ: St George's Respiratory Questionnaire; SD: standard deviation; Q1-Q3: interquartile range. *NOS for cross-sectional studies can score up to 10 stars.