INTRODUCTION

Long COVID-19 syndrome is characterized by persistence of symptoms up to 3 months after acute infection. Although the most prevalent persistent symptoms are respiratory symptoms, some authors have reported that pain is a symptom with a high prevalence among these patients. It is necessary to know the pain-related clinical profile in order to develop interventions tailored to the patients' needs.

OBJETIVE

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the pain-related clinical profile of Long COVID-19 patients with new-onset chronic pain 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. Pain intensity and interference were measured with the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI). Central sensitization was measures with the Central Sensibilization Inventory (CSI). The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) measures the severity of both nocturnal and daytime insomnia symptoms.

RESULTS

Fifty-five patients with Long COVID-19 syndrome, fifty-seven successfully recovered COVID-19  patients, and fifty-eight healthy controls were evaluated. The Long COVID-19 syndrome group showed significant results in the BPI-intensity and BPI-interference (p<0,001), in the CSI (p<0,001), and in the ISI (p<0,001).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, compared with patients who successfully recovered from COVID-19 and healthy controls, the results of this study show that pain intensity and interference, central sensitization and insomnia symptoms are significantly greater in the Long COVID-19 patients.