A cross-sectional study on the long-term impact of COVID-19: Symptoms, disability and daily functioning
Background: Evidence suggests that survivors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) experience ongoing symptoms, which is known as long COVID, or post-COVID syndrome. Approximately 100 million people globally are experiencing long COVID symptoms. Post-COVID syndrome (PCS) has debilitating effects on...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Afrikaans |
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AOSIS
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Health SA Gesondheid: Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://hsag.co.za/index.php/hsag/article/view/2880 |
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| author | Soraya Maart Rebecca A. Hofmeyr Justin J. Muller Lehlohonlo B. Tserere |
| author_facet | Soraya Maart Rebecca A. Hofmeyr Justin J. Muller Lehlohonlo B. Tserere |
| author_sort | Soraya Maart |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Evidence suggests that survivors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) experience ongoing symptoms, which is known as long COVID, or post-COVID syndrome. Approximately 100 million people globally are experiencing long COVID symptoms. Post-COVID syndrome (PCS) has debilitating effects on functioning and quality of life, potentially qualifying it as a disability.
Aim: This study aimed to assess the impact of PCS on disability levels using the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0).
Setting: A digital cross-sectional survey was conducted through online platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram.
Methods: A self-developed questionnaire was distributed via social media to collect demographic information, COVID-19 symptoms, and severity. The WHODAS 2.0 instrument was used to measure disability levels. A total of 101 participants completed the online survey.
Results: Most participants were aged between 21 years and 30 years (66%) and were female (60%). The most common acute COVID-19 symptoms were sore throat, fever, and headaches (84%). Post-COVID symptoms included brain fog and tiredness (82%). There was a statistically significant relationship between brain fog, depression, anxiety, and disability summary scores (p 0.005). The mean WHODAS 2.0 score was 34%, indicating a moderate level of disability.
Conclusion: This study’s results align with previous research, highlighting tiredness and neuropsychiatric symptoms as common among post-COVID patients. Post-COVID syndrome results in moderate disability when assessed using the WHODAS 2.0 with domains of Life Activities and Cognition mostly affected.
Contribution: Post-COVID syndrome should be recognised as a disabling health condition, with rehabilitation prioritised as a critical intervention to enhance functional capacity and quality of life. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fd42c9dc6dca4f7185716a21bb43d120 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 1025-9848 2071-9736 |
| language | Afrikaans |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health SA Gesondheid: Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-fd42c9dc6dca4f7185716a21bb43d1202025-08-04T09:08:15ZafrAOSISHealth SA Gesondheid: Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences1025-98482071-97362025-07-01300e1e510.4102/hsag.v30i0.28801279A cross-sectional study on the long-term impact of COVID-19: Symptoms, disability and daily functioningSoraya Maart0Rebecca A. Hofmeyr1Justin J. Muller2Lehlohonlo B. Tserere3Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape TownDepartment of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape TownDepartment of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape TownDepartment of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape TownBackground: Evidence suggests that survivors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) experience ongoing symptoms, which is known as long COVID, or post-COVID syndrome. Approximately 100 million people globally are experiencing long COVID symptoms. Post-COVID syndrome (PCS) has debilitating effects on functioning and quality of life, potentially qualifying it as a disability. Aim: This study aimed to assess the impact of PCS on disability levels using the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0). Setting: A digital cross-sectional survey was conducted through online platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. Methods: A self-developed questionnaire was distributed via social media to collect demographic information, COVID-19 symptoms, and severity. The WHODAS 2.0 instrument was used to measure disability levels. A total of 101 participants completed the online survey. Results: Most participants were aged between 21 years and 30 years (66%) and were female (60%). The most common acute COVID-19 symptoms were sore throat, fever, and headaches (84%). Post-COVID symptoms included brain fog and tiredness (82%). There was a statistically significant relationship between brain fog, depression, anxiety, and disability summary scores (p 0.005). The mean WHODAS 2.0 score was 34%, indicating a moderate level of disability. Conclusion: This study’s results align with previous research, highlighting tiredness and neuropsychiatric symptoms as common among post-COVID patients. Post-COVID syndrome results in moderate disability when assessed using the WHODAS 2.0 with domains of Life Activities and Cognition mostly affected. Contribution: Post-COVID syndrome should be recognised as a disabling health condition, with rehabilitation prioritised as a critical intervention to enhance functional capacity and quality of life.https://hsag.co.za/index.php/hsag/article/view/2880covid-19post-covid syndromedisabilitywhodas 2.0long covid functioning. |
| spellingShingle | Soraya Maart Rebecca A. Hofmeyr Justin J. Muller Lehlohonlo B. Tserere A cross-sectional study on the long-term impact of COVID-19: Symptoms, disability and daily functioning Health SA Gesondheid: Journal of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences covid-19 post-covid syndrome disability whodas 2.0 long covid functioning. |
| title | A cross-sectional study on the long-term impact of COVID-19: Symptoms, disability and daily functioning |
| title_full | A cross-sectional study on the long-term impact of COVID-19: Symptoms, disability and daily functioning |
| title_fullStr | A cross-sectional study on the long-term impact of COVID-19: Symptoms, disability and daily functioning |
| title_full_unstemmed | A cross-sectional study on the long-term impact of COVID-19: Symptoms, disability and daily functioning |
| title_short | A cross-sectional study on the long-term impact of COVID-19: Symptoms, disability and daily functioning |
| title_sort | cross sectional study on the long term impact of covid 19 symptoms disability and daily functioning |
| topic | covid-19 post-covid syndrome disability whodas 2.0 long covid functioning. |
| url | https://hsag.co.za/index.php/hsag/article/view/2880 |
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