Pain Burden in Post-COVID-19 Syndrome following Mild COVID-19 Infection, 2022, Bileviciute-Ljungar et al

Abstract

The global pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 has affected several hundred million people, and many infected people have suffered from a milder initial infection but have never fully recovered. This observational study investigates the pain burden in sufferers of post-COVID-19 syndrome after a milder initial infection.

One hundred post-COVID-19 patients filled out questionnaires regarding sociodemographic data, previous comorbidities, present pharmacological treatment, pain intensity and pain localisation. Health-related quality of life, fatigue, emotional status, and insomnia were measured by validated questionnaires. Multiple post-COVID-19 symptoms, including post-exertional malaise, were evaluated by a symptom questionnaire.

Among the 100 participants (mean age 44.5 years), 82% were women, 61% had higher education, and 56% were working full or part time. Nine participants reported previous pain or inflammatory conditions. Among the most painful sites were the head/face, chest, lower extremities, and migrating sites. Generalised pain was self-reported by 75 participants and was estimated in 50 participants. Diagnosis of fibromyalgia according to the 2016 criteria was suspected in 40 participants. Subgroup analyses indicated that comorbidities might play a role in the development of pain.

In conclusion, a major part of sufferers from post-COVID-19 syndrome develop pain, and in addition to its many disabling symptoms, there is an urgent need for pain management in post-COVID-19 syndrome.

Open access, https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/3/771/htm

 

"3.4. The Symptom Questionnaire

Results for multiple symptoms and post-exertional malaise (PEM) are presented in Figure 2, showing grades for multiple symptoms as well as PEM for each symptom. PEM was divided into PEM directly after an exertion and PEM remaining longer than 24 h. Fatigue and cognitive problems were the most enhanced symptoms regarding the level of severity and PEM. More than half of the participants scored physical fatigue as severe and increasing after an effort (PEM). Nearly 30% of the participants reported that exacerbation of fatigue after exertion remained longer than 24 h."