Multinomial modelling for post-COVID-19 breathlessness
| Post-COVID-19 breathlessness OR (95% CI) | ||
| Mild | Severe | |
| Sex at birth | ||
| Male | 1 (ref) | 1 (ref) |
| Female | 1.34 (0.95–1.88) | 1.67 (1.26–2.22) |
| Age at admission, years | ||
| <30 | 2.22 (0.78–6.33) | 0.95 (0.35–2.62) |
| 30–39 | 1.23 (0.62–2.43) | 0.68 (0.38–1.22) |
| 40–49 | 1.38 (0.84–2.26) | 0.78 (0.51–1.18) |
| 50–59 | 1 (ref) | 1 (ref) |
| 60–69 | 0.79 (0.51–1.23) | 0.64 (0.46–0.91) |
| 70–79 | 0.44 (0.25–0.80) | 0.39 (0.25–0.62) |
| ≥80 | 0.58 (0.23–1.41) | 0.13 (0.04–0.44) |
| Index of Multiple Deprivation | ||
| 5, least deprived | 1 (ref) | 1 (ref) |
| 4 | 1.14 (0.68–1.90) | 1.26 (0.79–2.00) |
| 3 | 1.05 (0.63–1.74) | 1.38 (0.88–2.18) |
| 2 | 0.82 (0.49–1.36) | 1.52 (0.99–2.35) |
| 1, most deprived | 1.02 (0.61–1.71) | 2.22 (1.44–3.44) |
| Ethnicity | ||
| White | 1 (ref) | 1 (ref) |
| South Asian | 0.80 (0.49–1.33) | 0.74 (0.48–1.14) |
| Black | 1.02 (0.61–1.71) | 0.46 (0.27–0.80) |
| Mixed | 0.76 (0.27–2.15) | 0.88 (0.39–1.98) |
| Other | 0.88 (0.39–1.96) | 0.77 (0.39–1.49) |
| BMI, kg·m−2 | 0.99 (0.96–1.02) | 1.01 (0.99–1.04) |
| Number of comorbidities | 1.12 (1.02–1.24) | 1.06 (0.98–1.16) |
| Pre-existing respiratory condition | ||
| No | 1 (ref) | 1 (ref) |
| Yes | 0.94 (0.64–1.39) | 0.76 (0.55–1.07) |
| Pre-existing depression or anxiety | ||
| No | 1 (ref) | 1 (ref) |
| Yes | 1.41 (0.83–2.38) | 1.64 (1.06–2.54) |
| Admission duration, days | 1.01 (1.00–1.02) | 1.02 (1.01–1.02) |
| WHO clinical progression scale | ||
| WHO class 3–4 | 1 (ref) | 1 (ref) |
| WHO class 5 | 0.92 (0.59–1.45) | 0.81 (0.55–1.20) |
| WHO class 6 | 0.76 (0.45–1.31) | 0.83 (0.53–1.30) |
| WHO class 7–9 | 0.90 (0.48–1.69) | 0.98 (0.58–1.65) |
The dependent variable was post-COVID-19 breathlessness categorised into three levels, No/Mild/Severe. The reference group (not shown) were those with no post-COVID-19 breathlessness (n=611). Mild post-COVID-19 breathlessness: n=213; severe post-COVID-19 breathlessness: n=402. World Health Organization (WHO) clinical progression scale: not requiring continuous supplemental oxygen (levels 3–4); continuous supplemental oxygen only (level 5); continuous positive airway pressure ventilation, bilevel positive airway pressure or high-flow nasal oxygen (level 6); invasive mechanical ventilation, extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation and acute renal replacement therapy (levels 7–9). BMI: body mass index.