Pain characteristics in long COVID syndrome patients one year after infection

Abstract

Introduction: Although respiratory manifestations are the most common manifestations of COVID-19, the clinical presentations of the disease are very variable including extrapulmonary signs and symptoms. One of the most common extrapulmonary manifestations is pain, which can occur in the acute phase as well as in the short and long term. Identifying the characteristics of this pain will allow the development of treatment programmes tailored to the needs of long COVID patients.

Objetive: The main objetive of this study was to identify the pain characteristics in long COVID syndrome patients one year after infection.

Patients and methods: In this observational study, long COVID patients were included. These patients were evaluated one year after infection and they were compared to a control group matched by age and gender. The affective and sensory characteristics of pain was evaluated with McGuill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ). Pain intensity was assessed with the pain intensity subscale of the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) and pain interference was evaluated with the pain interference subscale of Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) and total score of PROMIS-Pain Interference (PROMIS P-I).

Results: A total of 455 patients and 451 controls were included in this study. The affective and sensory characteristics (p<0,001), intensity (p<0,001) and interference (p<0,001) of pain showed significant results compared to the control group.

Conclusion: This study found that long COVID syndrome patients presented poorer affective and sensory characteristics of pain and greater levels of pain intensity and interference.