The Analysis of 607 Volunteers Shows a Reduction of Workability in Individuals With LONG-COVID Syndrome Associated With Neuropsychiatric Symptoms
Gabriel Salvador1, Mateus Nogueira1, Lucas Silva1, Italo Aventurado1, Fernando Cendes1, Marcia Bandini2, Antonio Del Nero1, Clarissa Yasuda1
1Neuroimaging Laboratory – Department of Neurology, 2Department of Public Health, State University of Campinas
Objective:
To investigate symptoms associated with reducing of workability in individuals with LONG-COVID syndrome.
Background:
Few studies evaluated the impact of neuropsychiatric symptoms (fatigue, depression, anxiety and excessive sleepiness) on workability in a homogeneous group of workers.
Design/Methods:
We evaluated 607 bank workers (mean age 42 years, 54% woman) after 200 days (on average) from confirmation of diagnosis of COVID19 (17% hospitalized and 83% non-hospitalized). Volunteers answered online forms including the “Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFQ)”, “Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS)”, “Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS)” and “Work Ability Index (WAI)”. We used SPSS22 for statistical evaluation with Chi-Square tests for analyses of proportions.
Results:
Approximately 85% completed higher education, and most (74.6%) worked in contact with the public. Overall, we identified 37.5% with normal WAI and 62.5% with reduced WAI in a group of 429 volunteers who answered the WAI questionnaire. Volunteers self-reported several symptoms, including fatigue (37%), anxiety (36%), cognitive dysfunction (29%) and depression (17%). Almost 20% were asymptomatic at the interview. However, the quantification of symptoms with formal questionnaires revealed excessive somnolence in 45%, fatigue in 79%, anxiety in 61% and symptoms of depression 66%. The comparisons of presence of these symptoms between groups with REDUCED-WAI and NORMAL-WAI revealed excessive sleepiness (25% versus 56% respectively; p<0.001), fatigue (93.2% versus 54% respectively; p<0.001), symptoms of depression (68.2% versus 18%; respectively, p<0.001) and anxiety (76.8% versus 30%, respectively p<0. 001).
In a longitudinal evaluation with 180 responders (average of 1 year after first interview), they self-reported fatigue (48%), anxiety (38%) and memory problems (52%).
Conclusions:
Neuropsychiatric symptoms of LONG-COVID syndrome negatively affect work ability months after infection. These findings point to the urgence of specific and multidisciplinary treatments for patients to minimize the individual burden and the global economic loss.