Changes in pre-covid pain symptoms in previously hospitalised and non-hospitalised covid-19 survivors

Background and aims: A SARS-CoV-2 infection can be followed by cognitive, musculoskeletal, neurological, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and respiratory symptoms. The development of long-COVID pain symptoms has in previously hospitalised COVID patients been found associated with pre-existing pain comorbidities. The aim of this large cohort, long-COVID pain study was to investigate changes in pre-COVID pain symptomatology between previously hospitalised and non-hospitalised COVID-19 survivors.

Methods: This cross-sectional exploratory study was based on responses to pain related questionnaires from a national survey. The study was based on data from 1) 4.833 previously hospitalised patients and to 2) 132.427 non-hospitalised persons with a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. The time from infection ranged between 8-30 months. From each group 1.000 people were randomly selected to participate. The questionnaire was designed to investigate pre-existing pain conditions, pre-existing pain condition changes after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and changes in the pain characteristics after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Results: Data from 1.000 non-hospitalised (56.5% females; 50.4±15.9 years; 79.2±16.6 kg) and 1.000 previously hospitalised (48.8% females; 60.4±15.2 years; 85.6±18.5kg) COVID-19 survivors were evaluated. Pre-COVID pain symptomatology was more prevalent in the hospital group (16.6% vs. 8.1%, p<0.001). Post-infection pain intensity of the pre-COVID pain condition was higher in the hospital group (47.6%) compared to the non-hospitalised group (18.5%, p<0.001).

Conclusions: The prevalence of pre-COVID pain symptoms was more likely to occur in the hospitalised group as compared to the non-hospitalised group possibly reflecting difference in comorbidity. Pre-existing pain intensity increased more in the hospitalised group as compared to the non-hospitalised group.