J Korean Acad Fundam Nurs.  2024 Aug;31(3):326-337. 10.7739/jkafn.2024.31.3.326.

Symptom Clusters and Quality of Life in People with Long COVID: A Cross-Sectional Online Survey

• Jeong YK
• Kim HY

• KMID: 2558785
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7739/jkafn.2024.31.3.326

Abstract

Purpose
This study examined the prevalence and severity of symptoms and symptom clusters and the relationship between symptom clusters and quality of life (QoL) in people with long COVID.
Methods
This descriptive study analyzed data from 220 adults with at least one symptom of long COVID for at least 4 weeks through an online survey from August 18 to September 5, 2022.
Results
The most frequent symptoms of long COVID were fatigue (94.5%), sore throat (89.1%), post-exertional malaise (88.2%), cough (88.2%), and fever (85.5%), and the most severe symptoms were fatigue (6.21±2.31), sore throat (5.78±2.78), cough (5.64±2.84), post-exertional malaise (5.46±2.64), and fever (5.21±2.90). Exploratory factor analysis revealed five distinct symptom clusters: digestivecognitive, respiratory-fatigue, pain-dermatological, sensory, and emotional clusters. The QoL of the highersymptom group was lower than that of the lower-symptom group (t=2.34; p=.020). Furthermore, the symptom clusters experienced by people with long COVID were associated with QoL.
Conclusion
Healthcare providers must recognize symptom clusters and intervene accordingly, and nursing interventions should be developed to effectively care for individuals in these symptom clusters.

Keyword

COVID-19; Fatigue; Quality of life; Syndrome