Profiling the persistent and episodic nature of long COVID symptoms and the impact on quality of life and functional status: a cohort observation study

Background
Post-viral issues following acute infection with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), referred to widely as long COVID, are associated with episodic, persistent, and disabling symptoms affecting quality of life and functional status. Evidence demonstrates a significant impairment and long disease course, but there remains limited empirical data to profile and determine the fluctuating symptom profile of long COVID.

Methods
We devised a 16-week, multicentre prospective cohort observation study to profile changes in patient-reported outcomes, and biological, physiological, psychological, and cognitive parameters following diagnosis and/or referral to an established long COVID clinic. Following baseline assessments, participants completed four face-to-face visits interspersed with telephone consultations. Face-to-face visits included physiological assessment, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), functional status, and respiratory function. Telephone consultations involved PROMs and symptom profiling.

Results
Patient-reported outcomes improved from baseline to week sixteen, but demonstrated between visit fluctuations in frequency and severity. Further findings highlight the severity and frequency of long COVID symptom profiles and the extent of quality of life and functional status impairment.

Conclusions
The data presented here highlight the episodic and relapsing nature and should be used to help characterise long COVID disability. They can inform the development of long COVID-specific guidelines and support services that can adequately respond to the reductions in patient well-being.