{"title":"Clinically Significant Functional Impairments and Symptoms in COVID-19 Survivors: Empirical Research Quantitative.","authors":"Chia-Chun Tang, Wei-Wen Wu, Sung-Jung Ho, Wang-Da Liu, Mei-Yan Pan, Shih-Chieh Chang, Wei-Shin Wang, Yi-Chen Yeh, Cheng-Hsuan Chen, Jung-Chen Chang","doi":"10.1111/jocn.17715","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>COVID-19 survivors may experience complex, distressing and persistent symptoms, referred to as long COVID, lasting months or years after diagnosis. More evidence is needed for effective long COVID screening and management.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To explore the clinical profile of long COVID and factors associated with its development.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>A multicentre correlational study using a cross-sectional design.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Adults diagnosed with COVID-19 6-9 months earlier were recruited via social media and referrals from three facilities. Participants provided demographic data and assessed their symptoms and functional status using validated questionnaires. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and binomial logistic regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 102 participants, 13%-30% reported significant impairments in cognitive, emotional and physical functioning. Over 10% experienced symptoms such as diarrhoea, sleep problems, dyspnoea, nausea, fatigue and pain. These impairments and symptoms were associated with acute symptom severity, chronic disease, overweight status, regular exercise and living without partners.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study adds to the literature by examining long-term functional status and symptoms in omicron survivors using comprehensive, validated tools. The findings highlight the prevalence and clinical significance of long COVID symptoms, aiding in the identification of functional impairments requiring medical and nursing interventions.</p><p><strong>Implications for the profession and patient care: </strong>Nurses should recognise these symptoms and educate survivors about potential challenges. Policies addressing long-term issues, including research, health services and education, are essential.</p><p><strong>Reporting method: </strong>This study follows the STROBE guideline (Table S1).</p><p><strong>Patient or public contribution: </strong>Patients self-reported symptoms for this study.</p><p><strong>Trial registration: </strong>ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05303103).</p>","PeriodicalId":50236,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Clinical Nursing","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Clinical Nursing","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.17715","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"NURSING","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: COVID-19 survivors may experience complex, distressing and persistent symptoms, referred to as long COVID, lasting months or years after diagnosis. More evidence is needed for effective long COVID screening and management.
Aim: To explore the clinical profile of long COVID and factors associated with its development.
Design: A multicentre correlational study using a cross-sectional design.
Methods: Adults diagnosed with COVID-19 6-9 months earlier were recruited via social media and referrals from three facilities. Participants provided demographic data and assessed their symptoms and functional status using validated questionnaires. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and binomial logistic regression.
Results: Among 102 participants, 13%-30% reported significant impairments in cognitive, emotional and physical functioning. Over 10% experienced symptoms such as diarrhoea, sleep problems, dyspnoea, nausea, fatigue and pain. These impairments and symptoms were associated with acute symptom severity, chronic disease, overweight status, regular exercise and living without partners.
Conclusion: This study adds to the literature by examining long-term functional status and symptoms in omicron survivors using comprehensive, validated tools. The findings highlight the prevalence and clinical significance of long COVID symptoms, aiding in the identification of functional impairments requiring medical and nursing interventions.
Implications for the profession and patient care: Nurses should recognise these symptoms and educate survivors about potential challenges. Policies addressing long-term issues, including research, health services and education, are essential.
Reporting method: This study follows the STROBE guideline (Table S1).
Patient or public contribution: Patients self-reported symptoms for this study.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Clinical Nursing (JCN) is an international, peer reviewed, scientific journal that seeks to promote the development and exchange of knowledge that is directly relevant to all spheres of nursing practice. The primary aim is to promote a high standard of clinically related scholarship which advances and supports the practice and discipline of nursing. The Journal also aims to promote the international exchange of ideas and experience that draws from the different cultures in which practice takes place. Further, JCN seeks to enrich insight into clinical need and the implications for nursing intervention and models of service delivery. Emphasis is placed on promoting critical debate on the art and science of nursing practice.
JCN is essential reading for anyone involved in nursing practice, whether clinicians, researchers, educators, managers, policy makers, or students. The development of clinical practice and the changing patterns of inter-professional working are also central to JCN''s scope of interest. Contributions are welcomed from other health professionals on issues that have a direct impact on nursing practice.
We publish high quality papers from across the methodological spectrum that make an important and novel contribution to the field of clinical nursing (regardless of where care is provided), and which demonstrate clinical application and international relevance.