Long-term changes in health-related quality of life (HrQoL) after SARS-CoV-2 infection are common, but the causes and consequences of these changes are not well understood. HrQoL was assessed using the European Quality-of-Life-5-Dimensions-5-Level-Version (EQ-5D-5L) in 2,618 participants (56% female; aged 18–88 years) approximately 9 months (baseline) and 26 months (follow-up) after their first infection. The results were compared to 40 different demographic and clinical variables. A clinically important improvement in HrQoL was noted during the observation period. At baseline, the number of remaining symptoms from the infection (RS), fatigue (FACIT-Fatigue Scale), depressive symptoms (PHQ-8), muscle pain, age, and anxiety (GAD-7) explained 43% of the variance in HrQoL. At follow-up, fatigue, RS, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and muscle pain explained 50% of the variance. Although changes in fatigue, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and RS were associated with a change in HrQoL, the predictive value of the variables was virtually zero. The study suggests that HrQoL improves statistically significantly during the observation period. However, the extent of recovery is difficult to predict from concurrent changes in demographic and clinical variables. Besides a high RS number, fatigue is the main predictor of poor HrQoL after infection, followed by the presence of depressive and anxiety symptoms.

Limited antibody response after BA.4/5 adapted booster vaccination in rheumatic patients receiving anti-TNF therapy: results of a case seriesUlf Martin Geisen1*, Mathias Voß2*, Ruben Rose2*, Franziska Neumann3, Carina Bäumler3, Sina Müller3, Lea Paltzow3, Christina Martínez Christophersen3, Merle Münier3, Elena Hildebrand1, Paula Hoff4, Ann Carolin Longardt5, Thomas Lorentz3, Jan Henrik Schirmer1, Melike Sümbül6, Florian Tran7,8, Dennis Berner1, Helmut Fickenscher2, Sascha Gerdes6, Stefan Schreiber7,8, Andi Krumbholz2,3‡, Bimba Franziska Hoyer1‡1 Medical Department I, Rheumatology, and Clinical Immunology, Christian-Albrecht University of Kiel and University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany2 Institute for Infection Medicine, Christian-Albrecht University of Kiel and University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany3 Labor Dr. Krause und Kollegen MVZ GmbH, Kiel, Germany4 Department of Rheumatology, Endokrinologikum-Gruppe, Berlin, Germany5 Department of Pediatrics, Christian-Albrecht University of Kiel and University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany6 Department for Dermatology, Christian-Albrecht University of Kiel and University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany7 Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrecht University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany8 Department for Internal Medicine I, Christian-Albrecht University of Kiel and University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel* ‡These authors contributed equallyCorresponding Author: Bimba Franziska HoyerMedical Department I, Rheumatology and Clinial Immunology,University Medical Center Schleswig-HolsteinArnold-Heller-Str. 324105 KielEmail: bfhoyer@rheuma.uni-kiel.dePhone: +49 431 500 22203