Sensitization-Associated Post-COVID-19 Symptoms at 6 Months Are Not Associated with Serological Biomarkers at Hospital Admission in COVID-19 Survivors: A Secondary Analysis of a Cohort Study

Serological Biomarkers at Hospital Admission and Hospitalization Treatments Are Not Related to Sensitization-Associated Symptoms in Patients with Post-COVID Pain

Current evidence suggests that a group of patients who had survived coronavirus disease, 2019 (COVID-19) and developed post-COVID pain can exhibit altered nociceptive processing. The role of serological biomarkers and hospitalization treatments in post-COVID pain is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association of serological biomarkers and treatments received during hospitalization with sensitization-associated symptoms in COVID-19 survivors with post-COVID pain. One hundred and eighty-three (n = 183) patients who had been hospitalized due to COVID-19 in one urban hospital of Madrid (Spain) during the first wave of the pandemic were assessed in a face-to-face interview 9.4 (SD 3.4) months after hospitalization. Levels of 19 serological biomarkers, hospitalization data, and treatments during hospitalization were obtained from hospital records. Sensitization-associated symptoms (Central Sensitization Inventory, CSI), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, PSQI), pain catastrophism (Pain Catastrophizing Scale), and anxiety/depressive level (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS) were assessed. The prevalence of post-COVID pain was 40.9% (n = 75). Twenty-nine (38.6%) patients had sensitization-associated symptoms. Overall, no differences in hospitalization data and serological biomarkers were identified according to the presence of sensitization-associated symptoms. The analysis revealed that patients with sensitization-associated symptoms exhibited higher lymphocyte count and lower urea levels than those without sensitization-associated symptoms, but differences were small. Pain catastrophism and depressive levels, but not fatigue, dyspnea, brain fog, anxiety levels, or poor sleep, were higher in individuals with sensitization-associated symptoms. In conclusion, this study revealed that sensitization-associated post-COVID pain symptoms are not associated with serological biomarkers at hospital admission and hospitalization treatments received.

Special Issue "Post-COVID-19 Symptoms in Long-Haulers: Definition, Identification, Mechanisms, and Management"

The worldwide spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a condition caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pathogen, led to the most unprecedented disease outbreak of this century, provoking around 770 million confirmed cases and nearly 7 million deaths globally [...].

Pain in critically ill COVID-19 patients: An Italian retrospective study

We retrospectively analyzed the data from patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Hospital of L'Aquila during the first and second waves of pandemic to identify pain related to COVID-19. Pain was evaluated by using the Numerical Rating Scale, and the assessment for neuropathic disturbances of pain was performed with von Frey's hair and Lindblom tests. Pain increased significantly during hospitalization (from 48% at hospital admission to 94.3% at ICU discharge). Female patients were affected by somatic pain in 32.8% of the cases and by somatic pain and pain with neuropathic features (NFs) in 23.5% of the cases, during the ICU stay. Somatic pain and pain with NFs affected more frequently patients with cardiological and respiratory comorbidities. Patients treated with continuous positive airway pressure via helmet had a higher frequency of somatic pain and pain with neuropathic disturbances (84 and 74%, respectively). The frequency of somatic pain and pain with neuropathic disturbances was lower in patients sedated with propofol combined with ketamine. Females have been associated with a higher risk of somatic pain and pain with NFs. Patients with cardiological and respiratory comorbidities undergoing noninvasive ventilation had higher levels of pain. As conclusion, ketamine may reduce the promotion or the worsening of pain in COVID-19 patients.

The “Mask Effect” of the Emotional Factor in Nurses’ Adaptability to Change: Mental Health in a COVID-19 Setting

During healthcare catastrophes, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, nurses are exposed to highly stressful situations derived from their work and personal activity. Development of coping strategies for such situations can improve nurses’ physical and mental health. This study analyzed nurses’ adaptability to change, with attention to socio-demographic variables in a COVID-19 setting, and identified the repercussions on their health. This quantitative, observational and cross-sectional study had a sample of 351 nurses aged 22 to 64 with a mean age of 40.91 (SD = 10.98). The instruments used for the study were the ADAPTA-10 questionnaire and the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). It was observed that age, sex, and having a stable partner significantly influenced scores on the emotional, cognitive–behavioral, and adaptation to change factors. Finally, the emotional factor mediated between positive COVID-19 in someone close and the presence of health problems. Understanding the elements that help adapt better to change and adversity enable effective interventions to be developed for improving emotional health of nurses, especially for those in whom there are positive cases of COVID-19 in their personal or work environment.