Musculoskeletal complaints following hospitalization for COVID-19 infection

Objectives

The term post- or long-COVID syndrome describes >50 possible long-term effects on various organ systems following COVID-19 infection. The pathophysiology of most symptoms remains unclear, and the time course of symptom onset varies widely.

Methods

Using a telephone survey and validated questionnaires we investigated the incidence of musculoskeletal complaints after inpatient treatment for COVID-19 infection compared with patients hospitalized for a non-COVID diagnosis.

Results

112 patients were followed up for least 6 months after discharge (range 6–21 months). Hospitalized and ICU-treated COVID patients showed significant changes in WOMAC scores for the lower extremities (Kruskal-Wallis test, p = 0.005). There is also a significant change in the post-discharge question about new limb complaints (Chi-squared test, p = 0.005), regardless of whether the patients received intensive care or not. The majority of COVID patients with joint or muscle symptoms describe them as widespread and much less frequently as localized and restricted to one region.

Conclusions

In addition to the already known long-term effects, there is evidence that patients with COVID who have been treated in an inpatient setting may also suffer from long-term musculoskeletal effects. Women of working age are particularly affected by the resulting limitations.