INTRODUCTION

Long COVID-19 syndrome is characterized by persistence of symptoms up to 3 months after acute infection. Patients with this syndrome present with a wide variety of symptoms, often resulting in multisystem involvement, with respiratory symptoms being the most prevalent. These symptoms can significantly affect patients' activity levels and health-related quality of life.

OBJETIVE

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the activity levels and health-related quality of life of patients with Long COVID-19 syndrome 2 years after infection.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional case-control study was performed. Long COVID-19 patients were evaluated two years after infection and compared with two age- and sex-matched groups, patients with a history of COVID-19 and successfully recovered and, healthy controls. The activity levels of the patients were assessed with the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) and the health-related quality of life was assessed with the EuroQoL 5 dimensions 5 levels (EQ-5D-5L).

RESULTS

Sixty-nine patients with Long COVID-19 syndrome, sixty-six successfully recovered COVID-19 patients, and sixty-seven healthy controls were evaluated. The Long COVID-19 syndrome group showed significant results in the IPAQ (p<0,001) and five dimensions of EQ-5D-5L (p<0.001) compared with the successfully recovered group and healthy controls group.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, compared with patients who successfully recovered from COVID-19 and healthy controls, the results of this study show that health-related quality of life and activity levels are significantly lower in Long COVID-19 patients.