Changes in quality of life and dyspnoea after hospitalization in COVID-19 patients discharged at home

Pierachille Santus; Francesco Tursi; Giuseppe Croce; Chiara Di Simone; Francesca Frassanito; Paolo Gaboardi; Andrea Airoldi; Marica Pecis; Giangiuseppe Negretto; Dejan Radovanovic

doi:10.4081/mrm.2020.713

Changes in quality of life and dyspnoea after hospitalization in COVID-19 patients discharged at home

Multidiscip Respir Med. 2020 Oct 13;15(1):713. doi: 10.4081/mrm.2020.713. eCollection 2020 Jan 28.

Authors

Pierachille Santus^{1

2}, Francesco Tursi³, Giuseppe Croce^{1

2}, Chiara Di Simone^{1

2}, Francesca Frassanito^{1

2}, Paolo Gaboardi^{1

2}, Andrea Airoldi¹, Marica Pecis¹, Giangiuseppe Negretto¹, Dejan Radovanovic¹

Affiliations

¹ Division of Respiratory Diseases, Ospedale L. Sacco, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan.
² Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (DIBIC), Università degli Studi di Milano.
³ Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale di Lodi, Dipartimento Medico, USC Pneumologia, USS Servizio di Pneumologia, Ospedale di Codogno, Lodi, Italy.

Abstract

Background: To date, the effects of COVID-19 pneumonia on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and dyspnoea are unknown.

Methods: In a real-life observational study, 20 patients with COVID-19-related pneumonia received usual care plus erdosteine (300 mg twice daily) for 15 days after hospital discharge following local standard operating procedures. At discharge (T0) and on Day 15 (T1), participants completed the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) scale of dyspnoea during daily activity, the BORG scale for dyspnoea during exertion, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for dyspnoea at rest. Paired t-tests compared scores at T0 and T1.

Results: The mean (SD) SGRQ total score decreased from 25.5 (15.5) at T0 to 16.9 (13.2) at T1 (p<0.01); 65% of patients achieved a clinically important change of ≥4 points. SGRQ domain scores (symptoms, activity, and impact) were also significantly reduced (all p<0.01). The mean (SD) VAS score decreased from 1.6 (1.7) to 1.4 (2.5); p<0.01. The mean mMRC score decreased significantly (p=0.031) and 30% of patients achieved a clinically important change of ≥1 point. The mean (SD) Borg score increased from 12.8 (4.2) to 14.3 (2.4); p<0.01.

Conclusion: The present proof of concept study is the first to report HRQoL in patients with COVID-19. During 15 days after hospital discharge, patients reported significant improvements in HRQoL and dyspnoea at rest and during daily activities.

Keywords: Antioxidant; COVID-19; coronavirus; dyspnea; erdosteine; quality of life.

Grants and funding

Funding: The study was part of the project on “Respiratory Diseases in patients with COVID-19 patients” funded by the Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences “L. Sacco” of the University of Milan.