Objective: To investigate the relationship between cognitive complaints, systemic inflammatory biomarkers, and psychological general well-being (PGWB) after mild/asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, according to the presence of long COVID and work tasks.
Methods: University employees and metal workers were recruited in a cross-sectional study 4 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection to assess cognitive impairment, individual PGWB index, inflammatory biomarkers, namely platelet-lymphocyte, neutrophil-lymphocyte, and lymphocyte-monocyte ratios, and the presence of long COVID symptoms.
Results: A significant increase in the levels of inflammatory biomarkers was observed in subjects with long COVID. Furthermore, the PGWB index was influenced by long COVID symptoms and subjective cognitive and depressive symptoms, but not by work activity.
Conclusions: In occupational settings, it is crucial to detect the presence of long COVID symptoms and systemic inflammation early, as they may be associated with lower PGWB.
Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.