Prevalence and impact of long COVID on health-related quality of life in previously hospitalized COVID-19 patients: a 2-year follow-up study
Issued Date
2026-12-01
Resource Type
eISSN
20452322
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105027567679
Pubmed ID
41381625
Journal Title
Scientific Reports
Volume
16
Issue
1
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Scientific Reports Vol.16 No.1 (2026)
Suggested Citation
Lersritwimanmaen P., Thonghem A., Wongsrisakunkaew W., Kositamongkol C., Phisalprapa P. Prevalence and impact of long COVID on health-related quality of life in previously hospitalized COVID-19 patients: a 2-year follow-up study. Scientific Reports Vol.16 No.1 (2026). doi:10.1038/s41598-025-31598-7 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/114461
Title
Prevalence and impact of long COVID on health-related quality of life in previously hospitalized COVID-19 patients: a 2-year follow-up study
Author's Affiliation
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Long COVID is a major health concern, yet evidence from Southeast Asia remains limited. We evaluated the prevalence, predictors, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) impact of long COVID among hospitalized adults in Thailand over two years. This single-center, ambidirectional cohort combined retrospective chart review with prospective follow-up. The cohort comprised 295 adults hospitalized for symptomatic COVID-19 between August and November 2021. Interviews occurred at three months, one year, and two years post-infection. Long-COVID prevalence was 49.8% at three months; among these, 64.4% reported persistent symptoms at one year, and 22% of the one-year symptomatic group had symptoms at two years. Common symptoms included breathlessness, fatigue, and memory disturbance. Logistic regression identified severe–critical acute illness as a risk factor (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.06, 95% CI 1.23–3.46), while full vaccination was protective (aOR 0.48, 95% CI 0.25–0.90). Long COVID was associated with lower HRQoL across all EQ-5D-5L domains. Long COVID was frequent among hospitalized Thai patients, with symptoms persisting in a substantial proportion up to two years. Severity of acute COVID-19 and vaccination status predicted long COVID. Long COVID was linked to reduced HRQoL, underscoring the need for follow-up and further confirmation in larger, multicenter studies.