A biopsychosocial analysis of risk factors for persistent physical, cognitive, and psychological symptoms among previously hospitalized post-COVID-19 patients
Abstract A significant number of COVID-19 survivors continue to experience persistent physical, cognitive, and psychological symptoms up to one year after discharge. This study aimed to examine the frequency, severity, and progression of and risk factors for these symptoms. This single-centre retros...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-99176-5 |
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| author | Gisela Claessens Debbie Gach Frits H.M. van Osch Daan Verberne Joop P. van den Bergh Vivian van Kampen-van den Boogaart Rosanne J.H.C.G. Beijers Annemie M.W.J. Schols Eric van Balen Caroline M. van Heugten |
| author_facet | Gisela Claessens Debbie Gach Frits H.M. van Osch Daan Verberne Joop P. van den Bergh Vivian van Kampen-van den Boogaart Rosanne J.H.C.G. Beijers Annemie M.W.J. Schols Eric van Balen Caroline M. van Heugten |
| author_sort | Gisela Claessens |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract A significant number of COVID-19 survivors continue to experience persistent physical, cognitive, and psychological symptoms up to one year after discharge. This study aimed to examine the frequency, severity, and progression of and risk factors for these symptoms. This single-centre retrospective cohort study included 126 COVID-19 patients admitted to the VieCuri Medical Centre between 2020 and 2022. Follow-up assessments were conducted at 3 and 12 months postdischarge, including pulmonary function tests, CT scans, bioimpedance analysis, and questionnaires on physical, cognitive, and psychological symptoms. At both follow-up assessments, 31–32% of patients reported moderate to severe physical symptoms, 26–27% reported multiple cognitive symptoms, and 14–18% experienced depressive or posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs). Only anxiety symptoms significantly decreased between the 3-month follow-up and the 12-month follow-up (from 22 to 12%; p = .014). The persistence of symptoms at 12 months was significantly associated with premorbid conditions (chronic respiratory disease, multiple comorbidities), illness severity (infection during the third wave), physical factors (COVID-19-related pulmonary abnormalities, lower total lung capacity, and dyspnoea), and cognitive and psychological factors (cognitive symptoms, anxiety, depression, and PTSS) (p < .05). These findings suggest that a significant proportion of COVID-19 survivors continue to experience persistent symptoms due to biopsychosocial factors, thus emphasizing the need for a biopsychosocial approach in early screening and treatment. |
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| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-ebf4ba7bc1f04df181dff36fe7450b6a2025-08-20T02:30:23ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111510.1038/s41598-025-99176-5A biopsychosocial analysis of risk factors for persistent physical, cognitive, and psychological symptoms among previously hospitalized post-COVID-19 patientsGisela Claessens0Debbie Gach1Frits H.M. van Osch2Daan Verberne3Joop P. van den Bergh4Vivian van Kampen-van den Boogaart5Rosanne J.H.C.G. Beijers6Annemie M.W.J. Schols7Eric van Balen8Caroline M. van Heugten9Department of Medical Psychology, VieCuri Medical CentreDepartment of Clinical Epidemiology, VieCuri Medical CentreDepartment of Clinical Epidemiology, VieCuri Medical CentreDepartment of Medical Psychology, VieCuri Medical CentreDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre +, NUTRIM Institute of Nutrition and Translational Research in MetabolismDepartment of Pulmonology, VieCuri Medical CentreDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre +, NUTRIM Institute of Nutrition and Translational Research in MetabolismDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre +, NUTRIM Institute of Nutrition and Translational Research in MetabolismDepartment of Medical Psychology, VieCuri Medical CentreDepartment of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Maastricht UniversityAbstract A significant number of COVID-19 survivors continue to experience persistent physical, cognitive, and psychological symptoms up to one year after discharge. This study aimed to examine the frequency, severity, and progression of and risk factors for these symptoms. This single-centre retrospective cohort study included 126 COVID-19 patients admitted to the VieCuri Medical Centre between 2020 and 2022. Follow-up assessments were conducted at 3 and 12 months postdischarge, including pulmonary function tests, CT scans, bioimpedance analysis, and questionnaires on physical, cognitive, and psychological symptoms. At both follow-up assessments, 31–32% of patients reported moderate to severe physical symptoms, 26–27% reported multiple cognitive symptoms, and 14–18% experienced depressive or posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs). Only anxiety symptoms significantly decreased between the 3-month follow-up and the 12-month follow-up (from 22 to 12%; p = .014). The persistence of symptoms at 12 months was significantly associated with premorbid conditions (chronic respiratory disease, multiple comorbidities), illness severity (infection during the third wave), physical factors (COVID-19-related pulmonary abnormalities, lower total lung capacity, and dyspnoea), and cognitive and psychological factors (cognitive symptoms, anxiety, depression, and PTSS) (p < .05). These findings suggest that a significant proportion of COVID-19 survivors continue to experience persistent symptoms due to biopsychosocial factors, thus emphasizing the need for a biopsychosocial approach in early screening and treatment.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-99176-5Lung diseasesPost-acute COVID-19 syndromeDyspnoeaModels, biopsychosocialAnxietyCognitive dysfunction |
| spellingShingle | Gisela Claessens Debbie Gach Frits H.M. van Osch Daan Verberne Joop P. van den Bergh Vivian van Kampen-van den Boogaart Rosanne J.H.C.G. Beijers Annemie M.W.J. Schols Eric van Balen Caroline M. van Heugten A biopsychosocial analysis of risk factors for persistent physical, cognitive, and psychological symptoms among previously hospitalized post-COVID-19 patients Scientific Reports Lung diseases Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome Dyspnoea Models, biopsychosocial Anxiety Cognitive dysfunction |
| title | A biopsychosocial analysis of risk factors for persistent physical, cognitive, and psychological symptoms among previously hospitalized post-COVID-19 patients |
| title_full | A biopsychosocial analysis of risk factors for persistent physical, cognitive, and psychological symptoms among previously hospitalized post-COVID-19 patients |
| title_fullStr | A biopsychosocial analysis of risk factors for persistent physical, cognitive, and psychological symptoms among previously hospitalized post-COVID-19 patients |
| title_full_unstemmed | A biopsychosocial analysis of risk factors for persistent physical, cognitive, and psychological symptoms among previously hospitalized post-COVID-19 patients |
| title_short | A biopsychosocial analysis of risk factors for persistent physical, cognitive, and psychological symptoms among previously hospitalized post-COVID-19 patients |
| title_sort | biopsychosocial analysis of risk factors for persistent physical cognitive and psychological symptoms among previously hospitalized post covid 19 patients |
| topic | Lung diseases Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome Dyspnoea Models, biopsychosocial Anxiety Cognitive dysfunction |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-99176-5 |
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