Eur J Public Health. 2012 Feb 7. [Epub ahead of print]
Self-reported sick leave and long-term health symptoms of Q-fever patients.
Morroy G, Bor HH, Polder J, Hautvast JL, van der Hoek W, Schneeberger
PM, Wijkmans CJ.
1 Department of Infectious Disease Control, Municipal Health Service
Hart voor Brabant, 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In The Netherlands, 1168 Q-fever patients were notified in
2007 and 2008. Patients and general practitioners (GPs) regularly
reported persisting symptoms after acute Q-fever, especially fatigue
and long periods of sick leave, to the public health authorities.
International studies on smaller Q-fever outbreaks demonstrate that
symptoms may persist years after acute illness. Data for the Dutch
outbreaks were unavailable. The aim of this study is to quantify sick
leave after acute Q-fever and long-term symptoms.
METHODS: Our study targeted 898 acute Q-fever patients, notified in
2007 and 2008 residing in the Province Noord-Brabant. Patients from
the 2008 cohort were mailed a questionnaire at 12 months and those of
the 2007 cohort at 12-26 months after onset of illness. Patients
reported underlying illness, Q-fever-related symptoms and sick leave.
RESULTS: The response rate was 64%. Forty percent of the working
patients reported long-term (>1 month) sick leave. Pre-existent heart
disease odds ratio (OR) 4.50; confidence interval (CI) 1.27-16.09),
hospitalization in the acute phase (OR 3.99; 95% CI 2.15-7.43) and
smoking (OR 1.69; 95% CI 1.01-2.84) were significant predictors for
long-term absence. Of the patients who resumed work, 9% were-at the
time of completing the questionnaire-still unable to function at
pre-infection levels due to fatigue or concentration problems. Of the
respondents, 40% reported persisting physical symptoms at the time of
follow-up. Fatigue (20%) was most frequently reported. Daily
activities were affected in 30% of cases.
CONCLUSIONS: Q-fever poses a serious persisting long-term burden on
patients and society.
PMID:22315459[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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