Markers of quality of life in patients with nosocomial pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

Objective — to investigate and analyze total white blood cell count and leukogram in an order with community-acquired pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 and to establish their relationship with subjective health assessment using the SF-36 tool 1 year after hospital discharge.
 Materials and methods. A retrospective study of the medical records of 208 patients who were hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia with a negative smear test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus was conducted. The main group consisted of patients with SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid identification and signs of pneumonia. According to the severity of pneumonia, patients were divided into three groups: II group —patients with pneumonia of category 2 of complexity (n = 124), group III — patients with pneumonia of category 3 of complexity (n = 68), group IV — patients with pneumonia of category 4 of complexity (n = 16). The comparison group consisted of patients with SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid identification and the absence of pneumonia. Charlson’s comorbidity index (Charlson Comorbidity Index) for the general prognosis of mortality was calculated using a special computer program. The general questionnaire SF-36 was used to assess the quality of life. Statistical analysis of data was carried out using the Statistica 7.0 software.
 Results and discussion. Probably higher values ​​of the total number of leukocytes were established in the patients of the studied groups compared to the comparison group. At the same time, this indicator in patients of the IV group statistically significantly exceeded the similar data of the II and III groups. The increase in leukocytes as the complexity of pneumonia progressed was mainly due to segmented neutro­phils. In patients with acquired pneumonia of the 3rd and 4th severity category caused by SARS-CoV-2 1 year after discharge from the hospital, the indicators of physical and psychological components of health are likely to be lower, while increasing age is likely to be associated with a decrease in quality of life.
 Conclusions. In patients with community-acquired pneumonia caused by COVID-19, an increase in the content of leukocytes upon admission to the hospital is associated with a decrease in indicators of physical and psychological components of health 1 year after discharge from the hospital.