The global pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 has affected several hundred million people, and many infected people have suffered from a milder initial infection but have never fully recovered. This observational study investigates the pain burden in sufferers of post-COVID-19 syndrome after a milder initial infection. One hundred post-COVID-19 patients filled out questionnaires regarding sociodemographic data, previous comorbidities, present pharmacological treatment, pain intensity and pain localisation. Health-related quality of life, fatigue, emotional status, and insomnia were measured by validated questionnaires. Multiple post-COVID-19 symptoms, including post-exertional malaise, were evaluated by a symptom questionnaire. Among the 100 participants (mean age 44.5 years), 82% were women, 61% had higher education, and 56% were working full or part time. Nine participants reported previous pain or inflammatory conditions. Among the most painful sites were the head/face, chest, lower extremities, and migrating sites. Generalised pain was self-reported by 75 participants and was estimated in 50 participants. Diagnosis of fibromyalgia according to the 2016 criteria was suspected in 40 participants. Subgroup analyses indicated that comorbidities might play a role in the development of pain. In conclusion, a major part of sufferers from post-COVID-19 syndrome develop pain, and in addition to its many disabling symptoms, there is an urgent need for pain management in post-COVID-19 syndrome.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the economic consequences of an 8-week multiprofessional rehabilitation programme for patients with persistent pain. A group of 67 patients following the programme and a comparison group of 322 patients. The effect on return to work was estimated using 3 different methods: (i) a matched sample approach; (ii) regression analysis; and (iii) propensity score matching. The economic benefit of the programme was estimated as a reduction in production losses due to sick-leave. This benefit was compared with the actual cost of the programme. The benefit of the programme was estimated to be euro3,799-7,515 per treated patient and year. The total cost of the programme was estimated to be euro5,406 per patient. Based on these figures the total cost of the programme, including costs for patients remaining on sick-leave, had been recovered when the successfully rehabilitated patients had worked for 9-17 months. Any additional work after that yielded net economic benefits. Since other studies indicate that a large proportion of the patients working after one year also work after 3 and 6 years, we conclude that this multiprofessional rehabilitation programme for patients with persistent pain most likely generates substantial net economic gains.

It is often suggested that immigrants with long-term pain do not benefit from rehabilitation to the same extent as native Swedish patients. In this study, an 8-week rehabilitation programme was evaluated according to its adaptation for immigrants. To establish whether there is a difference between immigrants and native Swedes concerning: (i) return-to-work, the patients' own estimation and their actual ability; (ii) higher level of activity; (iii) reduction in pain and analgesic use. A total of 67 patients with persistent non-malignant pain completed the rehabilitation programme. Thirty (45%) of the patients were immigrants. A 1- and a 3-year follow-up were made to compare the outcome between the 2 groups. There was no significant difference in the return-to-work rate between immigrants and native Swedes. However, the patients' prediction of their ability to return to work was higher among the non-immigrants. The level of activity was lower and pain intensity and use of analgesics were higher among the immigrants than the non-immigrants. Immigrants can benefit from a rehabilitation programme to the same extent as native Swedes concerning return-to-work rate, but seem to have limitations in assimilating the other objectives of the programme.

This study investigates the outcomes and feasibility concerning the functioning and activity of multidisciplinary group telerehabilitation for a post-COVID-19 condition. Recruitment for the group rehabilitation was announced three times during 2021 and 2022 through the COVID-19 patient organization in Sweden. The key inclusion criteria were remaining symptoms and functional impairments beyond 12 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection; medical assessment and treatment regarding comorbidities or new postinfection symptoms; the ability to use the Internet. Participants were randomized into a rehabilitation group or onto a waiting list using an Internet program. Multiple outcomes included self-scored questionnaires and physical tests before and after eight weeks, and at six months follow-up. Here, we present the self-scored outcomes on the International Classification of Functioning and Disability questionnaire (ICF, 22 body functions and 16 activity/participation categories) and breathing scales. Of the 164 participants who registered for the study, 67 (mean age 43, 78% women) participated in an eight-week group rehabilitation compared to 42 who served as waiting list controls (mean age 47, 88% women). At six months follow-up, 60 participants from the rehabilitation group and 21 from the waiting list completed the data. The results indicate that a larger number of ICF body functions and activity/participation categories had improved in the rehabilitation group after eight weeks and six months. Overall credibility, as assessed by the Credibility Expectancy Questionnaire, was high, and the attrition rate in rehabilitation was low. The results indicate beneficial outcomes for multidisciplinary telerehabilitation in people suffering from a post-COVID-19 condition. Therefore, rehabilitation interventions should be further developed and implemented in clinical practice.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the outcome of a structured multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme regarding the return-to-work rate. Sixty-seven patients were enrolled in an 8-week, structured rehabilitation programme. The prediction of the return-to-work rate was evaluated before entering the programme. The patients' own perception of returning to work as well as their pain intensity were estimated on a visual analogue scale and their period of sick leave was also recorded. The multidisciplinary rehabilitation team made an impairment and disability evaluation and analysis (IDEA) to assess possible work ability. This evaluation was made during the first 3 weeks of the 8-week programme. The return-to-work rate was also evaluated by means of the modified somatic perception questionnaire (MSPQ) and the disability rating index (DRI) before entering the programme. The results were compared with the actual return-to-work rate 1 year after completing the programme. A comparison group of 14 patients who were rejected due to lack of space in the programme was used in this study. There was a positive, statistically significant correlation (P<0.01) between the evaluation of the multidisciplinary rehabilitation team and the actual outcome of the return-to-work rate 1 year after completing the programme. At the 1-year follow-up, 63% of the patients had returned to work or were in work-related activities. The results on MSPQ or DRI, the patients' own perception of returning to work, the pain intensity, age or the period of time out of work did not predict the return-to-work ability. This study has shown that 63% of the patients with long-term non-malignant pain were back to work or in work-related activities 1 year after completing the rehabilitation programme. The IDEA made by the rehabilitation team was crucial in predicting the return-to-work rate in this patient group. The MSPQ and DRI questionnaires, the patients' own prediction, pain intensity, age and time out of work had a low value for predicting the return-to-work rate following a structured multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the outcome 6 years after completing a multiprofessional 8-week rehabilitation programme regarding the following objectives: (1) return to work, (2) level of activity and (3) pain intensity. Of 149 patients attending a rehabilitation programme, 122 were followed up after 6 years, through a structured telephone interview, and their present work situation, level of activity, sleeping habits, their estimated pain intensity and consumption of analgesics were recorded. The questions presented were the same as they had answered before entering the programme. The return-to-work rate was compared to 79 patients in a control group. At the 6-year follow-up, compared to before entering the programme, 52% had returned to work (P<0.001). In the control group the return-to-work rate was 13%. This difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). There was a statistically significant higher level of activity (P=0.037). A pain reduction was experienced by 58% of the patients (P<0.001) and 47% of the patients had decreased their consumption of analgesics (P<0.001). In conclusion, after completing the structured 8-week rehabilitation programme, the return-to-work rate was higher at a 6-year follow-up than in a control group. Furthermore, they had a higher level of activity and lower level of pain intensity than before entering the programme, indicating that the rehabilitation programme had a long-term positive effect on the return-to-work-rate, activity and pain as well as on the analgesic consumption. Die Studie sollte das Ergebnis 6 Jahre nach Abschluss eines multiprofessionellen 8-wöchigen Reha-Programms hinsichtlich folgender Kriterien bewerten: (1) Rückkehr zur Arbeit, (2) Beschäftigungsgrad und (3) Schmerzintensität. Von insgesamt 149 Teilnehmern an einem Reha-Programm wurden 122 nach 6 Jahren im Rahmen eines strukturierten Telefoninterviews befragt, dabei wurden ihre jeweilige Situation am Arbeitsplatz, ihr Beschäftigungsgrad, ihre Schlafgewohnheiten, ihre geschätzte Schmerzintensität und ihr Schmerzmittelverbrauch aufgezeichnet. Die Fragen waren die gleichen wie zu Beginn des Programms. Die Return-to-Work-Rate (Wiederaufnahme der Berufstätigkeit) wurde mit 79 Patienten in einer Kontrollgruppe verglichen. Beim Follow-up nach sechs Jahren hatten 52% verglichen mit dem Programmbeginn ihre Arbeit wieder aufgenommen (P<0.001). In der Kontrollgruppe lag die Return-to-Work-Rate bei 13%. Dieser Unterschied war statistisch signifikant (P<0.001). Der Grad der Aktivität war statistisch wesentlich größer (P=0.037). 58% der Patienten (P<0.001) erfuhren eine Schmerzlinderung, 47% der Patienten hatten ihren Schmerzmittelkonsum gesenkt (P<0.001). Abschließend lässt sich sagen, dass die Return-to-Work-Rate nach Abschluss des strukturierten 8-wöchigen Reha-Programms beim Follow-up nach sechs Jahren höher war als in einer Kontrollgruppe. Außerdem zeichnete sie sich durch eine höhere Aktivität und eine niedrigere Schmerzintensität als vor der Programmteilnahme aus, woraus sich schließen lässt, dass sich das Reha-Programm langfristig betrachtet nicht nur positiv auf die Return-to-Work-Rate, die Aktivität und die Schmerzsituation auswirkt, sondern auch auf den Schmerzmittelkonsum. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar los resultados de un programa multidisciplinario de rehabilitación de 8 semanas de duración tras 6 años de haberse concluido éste. Los parámetros evaluados fueron: (1) la reincorporación al trabajo; (2) el nivel de actividad; y (3) la intensidad del dolor. De los 149 participantes en el programa de rehabilitación, 122 fueron valorados tras 6 años de concluido el programa, mediante una entrevista telefónica estructurada, y se recogieron los datos correspondientes a su situación laboral actual, el nivel de actividad, los hábitos de sueño, la intensidad del dolor estimada por los pacientes y el consumo de analgésicos. Las preguntas formuladas fueron las mismas realizadas antes de iniciarse el programa. Se comparó la tasa de reincorporación al trabajo de este grupo con la de un grupo de referencia, de 79 pacientes. En la valoración realizada pasados 6 años, en comparación con los datos obtenidos antes de iniciado el programa, se halló que el 52% de los participantes se había reincorporado al trabajo (P<0.001). La tasa de reincorporación al trabajo, en el caso del grupo de referencia fue del 13%. Esta diferencia fue estadísticamente significativa (P<0.001). Se halló un mayor nivel de actividad, estadísticamente significativo (P=0.037). El 58% de los participantes en el programa (P<0.001) refirió disminución del dolor, y el 47% (P<0.001) había reducido el consumo de analgésicos. En conclusión, tras 6 años de concluido el programa estructurado de rehabilitación de 8 semanas, se halló que la tasa de reincorporación al trabajo fue mayor en los participantes que en el grupo de referencia. Además, el grado de actividad de los participantes fue mayor y intensidad del dolor menor que antes de participar en el programa, lo que indica que el programa de rehabilitación tuvo efectos positivos a largo plazo en la reincorporación al trabajo, el nivel de actividad y la intensidad del dolor, así como en la reducción del consumo de analgésicos. L'objet de cette étude était d'évaluer les résultats obtenus 6 ans après un programme de rééducation multi-professionnelle de 8 semaines par rapport aux critères suivants: (1) reprise du travail, (2) niveau d'activité et (3) intensité de la douleur. Sur 149 patients participant à un programme de rééducation, 122 ont été suivis...