Prevalence and risk factors of musculoskeletal pain symptoms as long-term post-COVID sequelae in hospitalized COVID-19 survivors: a multicenter study

Abstract

This study investigated the prevalence of long-term musculoskeletal post-COVID pain and their risk factors in a large cohort of COVID-19 survivors. A multicenter cohort study including patients hospitalised because of COVID-19 in 5 hospitals of Madrid (Spain) during the first wave of the pandemic was conducted. Hospitalisation and clinical data were collected from medical records. Patients were scheduled for a telephone interview after hospital discharge for collecting data about the musculoskeletal post-COVID pain. Anxiety/depressive levels and sleep quality were likewise assessed. From 2000 patients recruited, a total of 1969 individuals (46.4% women, age: 61 years, SD: 16 years) were assessed on average at 8.4 (SD: 1.5) months after discharge. At the time of the study, 887 (45% women) reported musculoskeletal post-COVID pain. According to the presence of previous pain symptoms, the prevalence of "de novo" (new-onset) musculoskeletal post-COVID pain was 74.9%, whereas 25.1% experienced an increase in previous symptoms (exacerbated COVID-related pain). Female sex (odds ratio [OR]: 1.349, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.059-1.720), history of musculoskeletal pain (OR 1.553, 95% CI 1.271-1.898), presence of myalgia (OR 1.546, 95% CI 1.155-2.070) and headache (1.866, 95% CI 1.349-2.580) as COVID-19-associated onset symptoms, and days at hospital (OR 1.013, 95% CI 1.004-1.022) were risk factors associated with musculoskeletal post-COVID pain. In conclusion, musculoskeletal post-COVID pain is present in 45.1% of COVID-19 survivors at 8 months after hospital discharge with most patients developing de novo post-COVID pain. Female sex, history of musculoskeletal pain, presence of myalgia and headache as COVID-19 symptoms at the acute phase, and days at hospital were risk factors associated with musculoskeletal post-COVID pain.

Prevalence of Neuropathic Component in Post-COVID Pain Symptoms in Previously Hospitalized COVID-19 Survivors

“…Characterization of post-COVID pain could help for better understand potential mechanisms and orientate personalized-tailored treatments. Although post-COVID pain resembles musculoskeletal features [ 4 ], neuropathic pain has been also described as a post-COVID sequelae [ 5 ]. It is possible that post-COVID pain exhibits both musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain features.…”

Is Coronavirus Infection Associated With Musculoskeletal Health Complaints? Results From a Comprehensive Case-Control Study

“… 1 Myalgia and arthralgia are one of the most prevalent symptoms of the COVID-19 acute phase. 2 One out of 4 COVID-19 patients complained of generalized diffuse muscle pain during the acute phase of the illness 3 ; however, there is little known about the musculoskeletal health complaints (MHC) among post-acute COVID-19 survivors.…”

“… 16 Another study found the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain was 45% among the COVID-19 patients discharged from the hospitals 8 months back. 3 Though the current evidence indicated a high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain, these studies have been mainly conducted among post-acute patients previously hospitalized for COVID-19. However, a significant portion of the COVID-19 patients experienced mild to moderate symptoms and did not require hospital admission.…”

Acute and long-term neurological disorders in patients with coronavirus infection

“…Частота скелетно-мышечной боли достигает 45% через 8 мес после госпитализации. К факторам риска хронизации относятся: женский пол, скелетно-мышечная боль в анамнезе, наличии миалгии и цефалгии в острую фазу, а также длительность лечения в стационаре [67].…”