The impact of pulmonary embolism on health outcomes of COVID-19 at 3 months after hospitalization

Chantal Visser, Julia C. Berentschot, Cindy M. M. de Jong, M. Louisa Antoni, L. Martine Bek, Rita J. G. van den Berg-Emons, Bram van den Borst, Hugo ten Cate, Arina J. ten Cate-Hoek, Dionne C. W. Braeken, J. J. Miranda Geelhoed, Majanka H. Heijenbrok-Kal, Sander M. J. van Kuijk, Lucia J. M. Kroft, Jenneke Leentjens, Anna H. E. Roukens, Suzanne C. Cannegieter, Frederikus A. Klok, Marieke J. H. A. Kruip, Merel E. Hellemons*Dutch COVID & Thrombosis Coalition

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 patients frequently experience pulmonary embolism (PE), but its long-term consequences remain uncertain. Objectives: To assess the impact of PE in COVID-19 patients on health outcomes at 3 months after hospitalization. Methods: In this multicenter cross-sectional study, we aggregated data from existing databases to evaluate the impact of PE on health outcomes at 3 months after hospitalization. We assessed 1) questionnaires on health-related quality of life (5-level EuroQol 5-dimensional questionnaire [EQ-5D-5L] questionnaire), anxiety, depression, cognitive failure, and posttraumatic stress disorder; 2) pulmonary function tests (diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide [DLCO] and spirometry); and 3) radiological abnormalities. We developed 3 models to assess the association between PE and the EQ-5D-5L index and the percentage of predicted DLCO (DLCO%): a crude model (model 1), adjusted for age, sex, and presence of comorbidities (model 2), and model 2 additionally adjusted for intensive care unit admission (model 3). Results: We included 465 patients who had been hospitalized for COVID-19, of whom 102 (21.9%) had developed a PE during admission. Patients with PE had poorer EQ-5D- 5L index values, more impairment in pulmonary functions, and more frequent radio- logical abnormalities than patients without PE. Symptoms of anxiety, depression, cognitive failure, and posttraumatic stress disorder did not differ between the 2 groups. In model 2, PE was associated with lower EQ-5D-5L index and lower DLCO%. After additionally adjusting for intensive care unit admission, the association between PE and lower EQ-5D-5L index (mean difference = -0.069, [95% CI, -0.12 to -0.017]) remained but not between PE and DLCO%. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that PE in COVID-19 patients is associated with reduced health-related quality of life at 3 months after hospitalization. While PE may be a marker of COVID-19 severity, its presence during hospitalization could indicate potential long-term health issues, which may be considered during follow-up care.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere102573
Number of pages15
JournalResearch and practice in thrombosis and haemostasis
Volume8
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2024

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • patient reported outcome measures
  • pulmonary embolism
  • quality of life
  • respiratory
  • function tests
  • QUALITY-OF-LIFE
  • RISK-FACTORS
  • PREVALENCE
  • SURVIVORS
  • CAPACITY

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