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Health outcomes in hospitalised and non-hospitalised individuals after COVID-19, an observational, cross-sectional study

Nygren-Bonnier, Malin ; Svensson-Raskh, Anna ; Holmström, Linda ; Törnberg, Anna ; Svensson, Annie ; Loewenstein, Daniel ; Regardt, Malin ; Björnson, Mikael LU ; Hallberg, Carl and Kemani, Mike , et al. (2025) In Communications medicine 5(1).
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Both hospitalised (H) and non-hospitalised (NH) individuals may have different symptoms and impairments after COVID-19. We aimed to explore symptoms, mental and physical health after initial COVID-19 for both groups of individuals and the association between physical and mental impairments in relation to self-rated health status and to identify different cluster profiles.

METHODS: Participants were recruited between June 2020 until December 2022 at the Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden. Data was collected at first assessment after COVID-19 and consisted of demographics, medical history, symptoms and results from physical function tests and self-reported questionnaires.

RESULTS: Here we show that among 931... (More)

BACKGROUND: Both hospitalised (H) and non-hospitalised (NH) individuals may have different symptoms and impairments after COVID-19. We aimed to explore symptoms, mental and physical health after initial COVID-19 for both groups of individuals and the association between physical and mental impairments in relation to self-rated health status and to identify different cluster profiles.

METHODS: Participants were recruited between June 2020 until December 2022 at the Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden. Data was collected at first assessment after COVID-19 and consisted of demographics, medical history, symptoms and results from physical function tests and self-reported questionnaires.

RESULTS: Here we show that among 931 participants, the H-group are older (mean age 56.7 years) and predominantly male (72%), while the NH-group are younger (mean age 44.4 years) and mostly female (84%). Fatigue, dyspnoea, joint pain, paraesthesia, and chest pressure are common symptoms reported across all participants. Physical function is lower than predicted in both groups and the NH-group have higher prevalence of depression and fatigue. These impairments together with dyspnoea, number of symptoms and sick leave are also associated with reduced self-rated health. Four specific cluster profiles have been identified, and 66.4% of the participants have severe to moderate impairments.

CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of the initial level of care approximately two-thirds of the participants exhibit various physical and mental impairments associated to self-rated health after COVID-19. We propose that defining specific cluster profiles is crucial for tailoring management of post-COVID sequelae. Further long-term studies are needed to understand recovery trajectories to optimise targeted interventions.

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publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Communications medicine
volume
5
issue
1
article number
512
publisher
Nature Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • pmid:41345271
ISSN
2730-664X
DOI
10.1038/s43856-025-01251-5
language
English
LU publication?
no
additional info
© 2025. The Author(s).
id
a17e595b-79d1-483c-9dd2-a98737e0110b
date added to LUP
2025-12-08 15:55:57
date last changed
2025-12-08 16:58:12
@article{a17e595b-79d1-483c-9dd2-a98737e0110b,
  abstract     = {{<p>BACKGROUND: Both hospitalised (H) and non-hospitalised (NH) individuals may have different symptoms and impairments after COVID-19. We aimed to explore symptoms, mental and physical health after initial COVID-19 for both groups of individuals and the association between physical and mental impairments in relation to self-rated health status and to identify different cluster profiles.</p><p>METHODS: Participants were recruited between June 2020 until December 2022 at the Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden. Data was collected at first assessment after COVID-19 and consisted of demographics, medical history, symptoms and results from physical function tests and self-reported questionnaires.</p><p>RESULTS: Here we show that among 931 participants, the H-group are older (mean age 56.7 years) and predominantly male (72%), while the NH-group are younger (mean age 44.4 years) and mostly female (84%). Fatigue, dyspnoea, joint pain, paraesthesia, and chest pressure are common symptoms reported across all participants. Physical function is lower than predicted in both groups and the NH-group have higher prevalence of depression and fatigue. These impairments together with dyspnoea, number of symptoms and sick leave are also associated with reduced self-rated health. Four specific cluster profiles have been identified, and 66.4% of the participants have severe to moderate impairments.</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of the initial level of care approximately two-thirds of the participants exhibit various physical and mental impairments associated to self-rated health after COVID-19. We propose that defining specific cluster profiles is crucial for tailoring management of post-COVID sequelae. Further long-term studies are needed to understand recovery trajectories to optimise targeted interventions.</p>}},
  author       = {{Nygren-Bonnier, Malin and Svensson-Raskh, Anna and Holmström, Linda and Törnberg, Anna and Svensson, Annie and Loewenstein, Daniel and Regardt, Malin and Björnson, Mikael and Hallberg, Carl and Kemani, Mike and Mc Allister, Anita and Körner Gustafsson, Joakim and Halvarsson, Alexandra and Ekman, Urban and Nordstrand, Linda and Guidetti, Susanne and Anmyr, Lena and Bragesjö, Maria and Åström Reitan, Jenny and Badinlou, Farzaneh and Dahl, Oili and Åkerman, Eva and Villner, Pär and Brodin, Petter and Caidahl, Kenneth and Ståhlberg, Marcus and Fedorowski, Artur and Sköld, Magnus and Runold, Michael and Bruchfeld, Judith and Rydwik, Elisabeth}},
  issn         = {{2730-664X}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{12}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{Communications medicine}},
  title        = {{Health outcomes in hospitalised and non-hospitalised individuals after COVID-19, an observational, cross-sectional study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s43856-025-01251-5}},
  doi          = {{10.1038/s43856-025-01251-5}},
  volume       = {{5}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}