Self-reported sick leave and long-term health symptoms of Q-fever patients

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. © 2012 The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.