Construct Validity of the Post-COVID-19 Functional Status Scale in Adult Subjects with COVID-19

Overview

Journal Health Qual Life Outcomes

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Public Health

Date 2021 Feb 4

PMID 33536042

Citations 66

Authors

Felipe V C Machado

Roy Meys

Jeannet M Delbressine

Anouk W Vaes

Yvonne M J Goertz

Maarten Van Herck

Sarah Houben-Wilke

Gudula J A M Boon

Stefano Barco

Chris Burtin

Alex van t Hul

Rein Posthuma

Frits M E Franssen

Yvonne Spies

Herman Vijlbrief

Fabio Pitta

Spencer A Rezek

Daisy J A Janssen

Bob Siegerink

Frederikus A Klok

Martijn A Spruit

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: An increasing number of subjects are recovering from COVID-19, raising the need for tools to adequately assess the course of the disease and its impact on functional status. We aimed to assess the construct validity of the Post-COVID-19 Functional Status (PCFS) Scale among adult subjects with confirmed and presumed COVID-19.

Methods: Adult subjects with confirmed and presumed COVID-19, who were members of an online panel and two Facebook groups for subjects with COVID-19 with persistent symptoms, completed an online survey after the onset of infection-related symptoms. The number and intensity of symptoms were evaluated with the Utrecht Symptom Diary, health-related quality of life (HrQoL) with the 5-level EQ-5D questionnaire, impairment in work and activities with the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire and functional status with the PCFS Scale.

Results: 1939 subjects were included in the analyses (85% women, 95% non-hospitalized during infection) about 3 months after the onset of infection-related symptoms. Subjects classified as experiencing 'slight', 'moderate' and 'severe' functional limitations presented a gradual increase in the number/intensity of symptoms, reduction of HrQoL and impairment in work and usual activities. No differences were found regarding the number and intensity of symptoms, HrQoL and impairment in work and usual activities between subjects classified as experiencing 'negligible' and 'no' functional limitations. We found weak-to-strong statistical associations between functional status and all domains of HrQoL (r: 0.233-0.661). Notably, the strongest association found was with the 'usual activities' domain of the 5-level EQ-5D questionnaire.

Conclusion: We demonstrated the construct validity of the PCFS Scale in highly-symptomatic adult subjects with confirmed and presumed COVID-19, 3 months after the onset of symptoms.

Citing Articles

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