Predictor-driven Dissection of the Post-COVID Syndrome (PCS) Score – A Population-Based Study
Year: 2024
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: Background: The term ‘Post-COVID Syndrome’ (PCS) encompasses the multifaceted sequelae of COVID-19. A previously developed PCS scoring system used data from 667 participants in a prospective, multicentre, population-based study (COVIDOM/ NAPKON-POP), grading PCS severity based on 12 symptom complexes. Acute COVID-19 severity and individual resilience were identified as predictors, indicating two aetiologically and clinically distinct PCS sub-phenotypes. Aim: We established two novel scores from non-overlapping subsets of PCS symptom complexes in order to enhance the specificity of the scoring system. Methods: Symptom complexes were sub-selected by CART analyses and the new scores were applied in a expanded dataset (n=2,771). The newly defined resilience-specific PCS-R score comprised: persistent neurological symptoms, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. The acute severity-specific PCS-S score included: signs of acute infection, chemosensory deficits, exercise intolerance, and joint or muscle pain. Results: Each novel PCS score was specific for COVID-19 severity and resilience, as intended, and subsequently validated in two sub-cohorts. In addition to the known predictors, the PCS-R score was significantly influenced by the patients’ level of education and pre-existing neurological or psychiatric diseases (all p<0.05). Both novel scores exhibited a significant inverse correlation with quality of life (EQ-5D-5L index; PCS-R: r=-0.62; PCS-S: r=-0.50; both p<0.001). Conclusion: The two novel PCS scores allow for a more nuanced approach to assessing PCS severity and heterogeneity, highlighting the clinical need for different therapeutic and interventional strategies in these distinct PCS phenotypes.
Authors: Sabrina Ballhausen, A. Russ, W. Lieb, A. Horn, L. Krist, J. Fricke, C. Scheibenbogen, K.F. Rabe, W. Maetzler, C. Maetzler, M. Laudien, D. Frank, J. Heyckendorf, O. Miljukov, K. G. Haeusler, N. E. El Mokthari, M. Witzenrath, J.J. Vehreschild, K.S. Appel, I. Chaplinskaya-Sobol, T. Tamminga, C. Nürnberger, L. Schmidbauer, C. Morbach, S. Störk, J.P Reese, T. Keil, P. Heuschmann, S. Schreiber, M. Krawczak, T. Bahmer
Institutions: University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, University of Würzburg, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, LungenClinic Grosshansdorf, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, University of Regensburg, University of Cologne, University Hospital Cologne, Goethe University Frankfurt, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, University of Göttingen
Language: English
Subfield: Neurology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4404096438