Post-COVID-19 physical and mental quality of life: a latent profile analysis and predictive factors

The long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection are increasingly recognized, with heterogeneous physical and psychological symptoms that may persist for months, significantly affecting Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), functional capacity, and psychosocial well-being. This study explores distinct profiles of HRQoL and psychological symptoms in former COVID-19 inpatients and assesses the impact of clinical variables at admission on long-term outcomes. Patients hospitalised for COVID-19 at Molinette Hospital in Turin were contacted several months post-discharge (between June 2022 and June 2023) to complete a questionnaire assessing long-term HRQoL, sleep quality, depression, anxiety, stress, and fatigue. Clinical data at the time of hospitalisation were also available for each participant. A Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was conducted on these physical and psychological variables, followed by multinomial logistic regression to examine how selected indicators of baseline COVID-19 severity and patient characteristics predicted profile membership. The sample consisted of 601 patients. LPA identified three health-related profiles: Fit-Vital (n = 289), Frail-Weak (n = 229), and Shattered-Broken (n = 83). Neither ICU admission nor pneumonia showed significant associations with more severe physical and psychological conditions. Key predictors of membership in the more severe profiles included the presence of comorbidities and altered clinical parameters reflecting overall physical status. Female gender was identified as a risk factor for poorer outcomes. This study highlights a wide spectrum of post-COVID-19 conditions, ranging from good to severely compromised physical and mental health. Female gender, presence of comorbidities, and elevated early warning scores at hospital admission are risk factors for worse outcomes, emphasizing the need for comprehensive long-term care. The long-term impact of COVID-19 on both physical and mental health is an important issue. Many people continue to experience persistent symptoms months after infection, which can reduce their quality of life and overall well-being. However, the specific profiles of these long-term conditions in the Italian population have not been fully described. In this study, we examined 601 patients who had been hospitalised for COVID-19 at Molinette Hospital in Turin. Several months after discharge, they completed questionnaires about their quality of life, sleep quality, depression, anxiety, stress, and fatigue. Using these data, we identified three distinct groups: those in good health (“Fit-Vital”), those with moderate difficulties (“Frail-Weak”), and those with severe ongoing problems (“Shattered-Broken”). The severity of the initial infection, such as pneumonia or admission to intensive care, was not strongly linked to worse long-term outcomes. Instead, being female, having comorbidities, and showing poor health indicators at hospital admission were associated with belonging to the more vulnerable groups.These findings highlight the need for long-term care strategies that go beyond the acute phase of COVID-19. Paying attention to risk factors present at admission may help identify patients who require ongoing medical and psychological support.