Characteristics and influence on quality of life of new-onset pain in critical COVID-19 survivors.

Background: Pain is a clinical feature of COVID-19, however, data about persistent pain after hospital discharge, especially among ICU survivors is scarce. The aim of this study was to explore the incidence and characteristics of new-onset pain and its impact on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), and to quantify the presence of mood disorders in critically ill COVID-19 survivors.

Methods: This is a preliminary report of PAIN-COVID trial (NCT04394169) presenting a descriptive analysis in critically ill COVID-19 survivors, following in person interview 1 month after hospital discharge. Pain was assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory, the Douleur Neuropathique 4 questionnaire and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale. HRQoL was evaluated with the EQ 5D/5L, and mood disorders with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Results: From 27 May to 19 July 2020, 203 patients were consecutively screened for eligibility, and 65 were included in this analysis. Of these, 50.8% patients reported new-onset pain; 38.5% clinically significant pain (numerical rating score ≥3 for average pain intensity); 16.9% neuropathic pain; 4.6% pain catastrophizing thoughts, 44.6% pain in ≥2 body sites and 7.7% widespread pain. Patients with new-onset pain had a worse EQ-VAS and EQ index value (p < 0.001). Pain intensity was negatively correlated to both the former (Spearman ρ: -0.546, p < 0.001) and the latter (Spearman ρ: -0.387, p = 0.001). HADS anxiety and depression values equal or above eight were obtained in 10.8% and 7.7% of patients, respectively.

Conclusion: New-onset pain in critically ill COVID-19 survivors is frequent, and it is associated with a lower HRQoL. Trial registration No.: NCT04394169. Registered 19 May 2020. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04394169.

Significance: A substantial proportion of severe COVID-19 survivors may develop clinically significant persistent pain, post-intensive care syndrome and chronic ICU-related pain. Given the number of infections worldwide and the unprecedented size of the population of critical illness survivors, providing information about the incidence of new-onset pain, its characteristics, and its influence on the patients' quality of life might help establish and improve pain management strategies.