TABLE 3: Comparison between the HRQoL of post-COVID-19 patients admitted and not admitted into intensive care unit (n=5).

Study	Sample characteristics	Objective related to HRQoL	Instrument	Follow-up	Outcomes	Methodological quality	Overall quality
Albu et al., 2021	n=30 individuals with persistent symptoms and/or sequelae of COVID-19 (16 post-intensive care unit, median age of 54 years (Q1-Q3: 43.8 to 62.0 years), 61.2% males, median length of hospital stay of 37 days (Q1-Q3: 15 to 69 days).	The compare the HRQoL of post-COVID-19 patients that were admitted ate intensive care unit with those that who not and to verify the correlation between HRQoL and fatigue and anxiety/depression.	WHOQOL-Bref	>3 months after acute COVID-19	There were no differences between groups admitted at post-intensive care unit and without post-intensive care unit in any WHOQOL-Bref domain.	Selection (★★★) Comparability (★★) Outcome (★★) Total score: 7/10*	High quality
Halpin et al., 2020	n=100 patients post-COVID-19, divided into ward group [68 patients; median age of 70.5 years (Q1-Q3: 20 to 93 years), 51.5% males; median length at ward of 6.5 days (Q1-Q3: 4 to 14)] and ICU group [(32 patients; median age of 58.5 years; 59.4% males; median length at intensive care unit of 4 days (Q1-Q3: 2.6 to 5.7 days).	To identify the impact of COVID-19 on HRQoL of discharged survivors.	EQ-5D-5L	Between 4 to 8 weeks after discharge	There was a clinically significant drop in EQ5D by 68.8% in the intensive care unit group and 45.6% in the ward group.	Selection (★★★) Comparability (★) Outcome (★★) Total score: 5/10*	High quality
Garrigues et al., 2020	n=120 patients post-COVID-19 stratified into ward group [96 patients; mean 64.1 years, SD 16.1), 58.3% males; mean length of stay in hospital 7.4 days, SD 5.4, and intensive care unit group (24 patients; mean 59.6 years, SD 13.7; 79.2% males; mean length of stay in hospital 26.5 days, SD 22.3).	To verify the difference in HRQoL between patients admitted at ward and at intensive care unit.	EQ-5D-5L	Mean of 110.9 days after admission for COVID-19.	There was no difference in HRQoL between group admitted at ward versus intensive care unit both in EQ-5D-5L (mean score 0.86, SD 0.19 versus 0.82, SD 0.21, respectively; p=0.306), and Visual analogic scale (mean score 69.9, SD 21.4 versus 71.7, SD 22.2, respectively; p=0.711).	Selection (★★★) Comparability (★★) Outcome (★★) Total score: 7/10*	High quality
Huang et al., 2021	n=1733 patients after hospital discharge from COVID-19; median 57.0 years (Q1-Q3: 47.0 to 65.0 years; median length of stay of 14.0 (Q1-Q3: 10.0 to 19.0 days), 52% men. Patients were stratified into three groups: that did not require oxygen supplementation; that required oxygen supplementation; and that required high-flow nasal cannula, or non-invasive mechanical ventilation, or invasive mechanical ventilation.	To verify the difference in HRQoL among the three groups of patients.	EQ-5D-5L	Median 186.0 (Q1-Q3: 175.0 to 199.0) days.	When compared to patients that did not require supplemental oxygen, patients with high-flow nasal cannula, non-invasive mechanical ventilation, or invasive mechanical ventilation had more problems in mobility (6% versus 14%), pain or discomfort (26% versus 41%), and anxiety or depression (23% versus 32%).	Selection (★★) Comparability (★★) Exposure (★★★) Total score: 7/9	High quality
Lerum et al., 2021	n=103 patients post- COVID-19, stratified in group after intensive care unit [n=15, median age 52 years (Q1-Q3: 50 to 59 years; 73% males; median length of stay 17 days (Q1-Q3: 12 to 25 years)] and no intensive care unit [n=88; median age 61 years (Q1-Q3: 49 to 74 years; 49% males, median length of stay 5.0 (Q1-Q3: 3 to 9 days)]	To verify the difference in HRQoL between patients with and without admission at the intensive care unit.	EQ-5D-5L	3 months after hospital discharge	Patients admitted to the intensive care unit (median score 4, Q1-Q3: 2 to 4) had worse HRQoL in the domain usual activities than patients admitted only to regular wards (median score 2, Q1-Q3: 1 to 2, respectively) (p=0.014).	Selection (★★) Comparability (★) Exposure (★★★) Total score: 6/9	High quality

Abbreviations: HRQoL: health-related quality of life; WHOQOL-Bref: World Health Organization Quality of Life; EQ-5D-5L: Euro Quality of Life (five dimensions and five levels); SD: standard deviation; Q1-Q3: interquartile range. *NOS for cross-sectional studies can score up to 10 stars.