Design, validation and implementation of the post-acute (long) COVID-19 quality of life (PAC-19QoL) instrument

The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has led to a global pandemic, resulting in a disease termed COVID-19, which commonly presents in adults as a typical infection of the upper respiratory tract. Although the disease is often acute, one in ten patients can continue to be affected for weeks or months, resulting in a state called long COVID. Existing evidence suggests there are no patient-centred instruments for capturing the impact of long COVID on the quality of life of people affected. The PAC-19QoL instrument and PAC-19QoLReg prospective observational cohort clinical study will enable an understanding of disease progression, on and off treatment, on the quality of life of patients with long COVID beyond simple symptomatology.