What is the long-term impact of COVID-19 on the Health-Related Quality of Life of individuals with mild symptoms (or non-hospitalised): A rapid review

Background and Context

Since December 2020 the ‘COVID-19 morbidities model’ (a written ‘framework’) has been used by policy-makers to understand the cost effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccination programme, and to support the Test and Trace service.

The model currently uses data collected from people who experienced very severe COVID-19 symptoms, as well as people who needed to be treated for COVID-19 in hospital.

However, the ‘COVID-19 morbidities model’ now requires updating to address the long-term impact of COVID-19 on patients who experienced milder symptoms, and who did not require hospital treatment.

Aims

The aim of this research is to help policy-makers plan and prioritise the future provision of Long COVID services. 

Strategy

The research team performed a review of existing research. Thirteen studies were included to answer the question. 

Outcomes

A summary of the results suggested that COVID-19 infection may cause a reduction in ‘health related quality of life’ and impaired mental health (including anxiety and depression), even if the initial disease was ‘mild’. The extent, severity, and duration of this is not clear.

Policy Implications

Some patients can take up to (or even more than) a year to recover, and employers should be aware of this. 

Further awareness and communication of these messages is key. Education campaigns from public health agencies could help inform patients that a mild COVID-19 infection can have long-lasting symptoms. 

Services for long-COVID care within health boards should be reviewed in response to the findings in this review.

Finally, the researchers advise that further in-depth research on this topic is needed. Several studies are still in progress across the UK.

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Summary author: Alexandra Strong