This is a list of instruments that have been identified as being used in VA research and clinical settings for Long COVID and should not be viewed as an endorsement by LC-PBRN. For specific guidance please refer to available clinic guides for considerations of in-clinic use.
Symptom Domain
Clinical Recommendations on Survey Instruments for Long COVID
Instrument |
Time to Administer (minutes) |
Instrument Length (# of items) |
Description |
Available in VA REDCap |
---|---|---|---|---|
30 Second Sit to Stand |
<5 |
NA |
measures lower extremity strength |
NA |
EQ-5D-5L |
<5 |
5 |
Provides a single measurement of health status based on mobility, self-care, usual activity, pain, |
yes |
Accountable Health Communities Screening Tool |
10-20 |
10-26 |
Determining needs available through community services including housing instability, food |
|
Post COVID Functional Status (PCFS) |
<5 |
1 |
Current impact of COVID-19 on every day life |
no |
VA Well-Being Survey |
<5 |
3 |
How Veterans are doing in their daily lives |
no |
COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale (C-19-YRS)/Modified COVID-19 |
20-30 |
17-22 |
assess presence and severity of Long COVID symptoms as well as functional disablilty |
no |
Long-Term Symptom Questionnaire |
15-20 |
20 |
Impact of long-term health conditions on daily life |
no |
PROMIS Scale v1.2- Global Health |
10 |
10 |
Overall evaluation of a patient's physical and mental health. |
yes |
SARS CoV 2 Symptom Questionnaire |
<5 |
21 |
assesses for presence of COVID-19 like symptoms |
no |
Veterans Rand 12-Item Health Survey (VR 12) |
10 |
12 |
Measures physical well-being, physical symptoms, psychlogical symptioms as well as overall |
no |
Functional Independence Measure (FIM) |
30-45 |
18 |
Measures disability through measuring activties of daily living (ADLS) |
no |
WHO Disabilitiy Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) |
5-20 |
12-36 |
Standardized method for measuring health and disability across cultures |
no |
AM-PAC Daily Activity Outpatient Routine Short Form |
5 |
10 |
Measures a patient's ability to perform functional activities required in most daily routines. |
no |
Flu Related Symptoms Questionnaire |
10 |
42 |
assesses common virus-related symptoms |
no |
Maryland Assessment of Recovery Scale (MARS-12) |
5 |
12 |
Assess the recovery of patients with serious mental illness |
no |
Texas Functional Living Scale (TFLS) |
15-20 |
15 |
Measures a patient's ability to perform activities of daily living related to time, money, |
no |
McGill Global Quality of Life (GQOL) |
10-15 |
17 |
Measures physical well-being, physical symptoms, psychlogical symptioms as well as overall |
no |
Million Veterans Program COVID-19 Survey |
65 |
54 |
Collects information on symptoms, diagnosis, hospitalization and other factors specific to |
no |
Symptom Burden Questionnaire (University of Birmingham) |
20 |
131 |
measures symptom burden in adults with Long COVID. |
no |
Long-Term Conditions Questionnaire (LTCQ) |
5-10 |
20 |
measures the impact of long term health conditions on quality of life |
no |
Instrument |
Time to Administer (minutes) |
Instrument Length (# of items) |
Description |
Available in VA REDCap |
---|---|---|---|---|
30 Second Sit to Stand (30STS) |
<5 |
NA |
measures lower extremity strength |
NA |
2 Minute Step Test (2MST) |
<5 |
NA |
measures aerobic capacity |
NA |
2 Minute Walk Test (2MWT) |
<5 |
NA |
measures aerobic capacity |
NA |
Instrument |
Time to Administer (minutes) |
Instrument Length (# of items) |
Description |
Available in VA REDCap |
---|---|---|---|---|
2 Minute Walk Test (2MWT) |
<5 |
NA |
measures aerobic capacity |
NA |
Exercise Vital Sign (EVS) Questionnaire |
<5 |
2-3 |
calculates a person's total exercise per week |
no |
6 Minute Walk Test |
6 |
NA |
measures aerobic capacity |
NA |
Life Space Assessment (LSA) |
<5 |
5 |
measures mobility |
no |
AM-PAC Activity Measure for Post-Acute Care - "6 Clicks" |
5 |
6 |
assesses activity limitations following an acute hospitalization |
no |
Instrument |
Time to Administer (minutes) |
Instrument Length (# of items) |
Description |
Available in VA REDCap |
---|---|---|---|---|
Anglicized Olfactory Disroder Questionnaire (eODQ) |
5-10 |
24 |
impact of olfactory disorders on quality of life |
no |
Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) |
10 |
40 |
tests the function of the olfactory system |
no |
Instrument |
Time to Administer (minutes) |
Instrument Length (# of items) |
Description |
Available in VA REDCap |
---|---|---|---|---|
Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) |
5 |
5-7 |
measures the impact of migraines on quality of life |
yes |
Orhtostatic Hypotension Questionnaire (OHQ) |
5-10 |
10 |
assesses the symptom burden of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension |
no |
Insomnia Severiy Index (ISI) |
<5 |
5 |
measures the severity of insomnia symtpoms over the prior two weeks |
no |
STOP-Bang Obstructive Sleep Apnea Questionnaire |
<5 |
8 |
assesses risk of obstructive sleep apnea |
no |
COMPASS 31 |
10-15 |
31 |
assesses autonomic symptom severity |
yes |
Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI) |
5-10 |
22 |
measures symptoms after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) |
no |
10-Minute Stand Test (Active Stand Test) |
20 |
NA |
used to diagnose PoTS |
NA |
Orthostatic Blood Pressure |
10 |
NA |
detects low blood pressure when standing |
NA |
Pupil reactivity |
<5 |
NA |
part of neurological exam - helps detect problems with the brain, autonomic nervous system |
NA |
Heart Rate Variability with deep breathing |
<5 |
NA |
assesses cardiovegal function and autonomic nervous system activity |
NA |
Instrument |
Time to Administer (minutes) |
Instrument Length (# of items) |
Description |
Available in VA REDCap |
---|---|---|---|---|
ECG |
5-10 |
NA |
assesses heart activity and for cardiac symptoms |
NA |
Submax treadmill test |
6-12 |
NA |
assesses cardiorespiratory fitness and functional capacity |
NA |
Instrument |
Time to Administer (minutes) |
Instrument Length (# of items) |
Description |
Available in VA REDCap |
---|---|---|---|---|
Multidimensional Inventory of Subjective Cognitive Impairment |
5-10 |
10 |
measures cognitive dysfunction in fibromyalgia |
no |
Long-Term Symptoms Questionnaire |
15-20 |
20 |
Impact of long-term health conditions on daily life |
no |
AM-PAC Applied Cognitive Outpatient Routine Short Form |
5-10 |
19 |
assesses cognitive function not well-represented in other measures like reading, daily routines |
no |
Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) |
5-10 |
11 |
assesses cognitive impairment |
no |
Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) |
10 |
11 |
screening tool for cognitive dysfunction |
no |
Six-Item Cognitive Impairment Test (6CIT) |
5 |
6 |
identifies cognitive impairment |
no |
Saint Louis University Mental Status Exam (SLUMS) |
5-10 |
11 |
screening tool for mild neurocognitive disorder and dementia |
no |
Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI) |
5-10 |
22 |
measures symptoms after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) |
no |
Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS) |
10 |
11 |
screening tool for cognitive impairment and dementia. It can be given to patients with severe visual |
no |
Instrument |
Time to Administer (minutes) |
Instrument Length (# of items) |
Description |
Available in VA REDCap |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cough Severity Index |
5 |
10 |
measures the impact of cough on quality of life |
no |
Leicester Cough Questionnaire |
5-10 |
19 |
measures the impact of cough on quality of life |
no |
Cough Symptom Score |
<5 |
2 |
assesses cough severity during daytime and nighttime |
no |
Flu Related Symptoms Questionnaire |
10 |
42 |
assesses common virus-related symptoms |
no |
Cough Specific Quality of Life Questionnare (CQLQ) |
5-10 |
28 |
measures the impact of cough on quality of life |
no |
Instrument |
Time to Administer (minutes) |
Instrument Length (# of items) |
Description |
Available in VA REDCap |
---|---|---|---|---|
Anglicized Olfactory Disorder Questionnaire (eODQ) |
5-10 |
24 |
impact of olfactory disorders on quality of life |
yes |
Instrument |
Time to Administer (minutes) |
Instrument Length (# of items) |
Description |
Available in VA REDCap |
---|---|---|---|---|
30 Second Sit to Stand (30STS) |
<5 |
NA |
measures lower extremity strength |
NA |
Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (mMRC) |
<5 |
1 |
assess functional diability related to dyspnea |
no |
2 Minute Walk Test (2MWT) |
<5 |
NA |
measures aerobic capacity |
NA |
Long-Term Symptom Questionnaire |
15-20 |
20 |
Impact of long-term health conditions on daily life |
no |
PROMIS-Dyspnea Severity - 10a |
5-10 |
10 |
measures dyspnea/SOB severity |
no |
6 Minute Walk Test |
6 |
NA |
measures aerobic capacity |
NA |
Instrument |
Time to Administer (minutes) |
Instrument Length (# of items) |
Description |
Available in VA REDCap |
---|---|---|---|---|
30 Second Sit to Stand |
<5 |
NA |
measures lower extremity strength |
NA |
Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (mMRC) |
<5 |
1 |
assess functional diability related to dyspnea |
no |
2 Minute Step Test (2MST) |
<5 |
NA |
measures aerobic capacity |
NA |
2 Minute Walk Test (2MWT) |
<5 |
NA |
measures aerobic capacity |
NA |
Long-Term Symptom Questionnaire |
15-20 |
20 |
Impact of long-term health conditions on daily life |
no |
DePaul Symptom Questionnaire - Post Exertionl Malaise (DSQ-PEM) |
5 |
10 |
assess post-exertional malaise |
yes |
6 Minute Walk Test |
6 |
NA |
measures aerobic capacity |
NA |
Epworth Sleepiness Scale |
<5 |
8 |
measures daytime sleepiness |
no |
Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Fatigue (FACIT-F) |
10-15 |
40 |
assesses fatigue and its effect on daily activities |
yes |
Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) |
<5 |
9 |
measures fatigue severity and impacts on daily life |
yes |
McGill Global Quality of Life (GQOL) |
10-15 |
17 |
Measures physical well-being, physical symptoms, psychlogical symptioms as well as overall |
no |
Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) |
10-45 |
9 |
assesses perceived performance of self-care, productivity and leisure |
no |
Instrument |
Time to Administer (minutes) |
Instrument Length (# of items) |
Description |
Available in VA REDCap |
---|---|---|---|---|
Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) |
5 |
6 |
assesses the impact of headaches on daily life |
no |
Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) |
5 |
5-7 |
measures the impact of migraines on quality of life |
yes |
Instrument |
Time to Administer (minutes) |
Instrument Length (# of items) |
Description |
Available in VA REDCap |
---|---|---|---|---|
EQ-5D-5L |
<5 |
5 |
Provides a singe measurement of health status based on mobility, self-care, usual activity, pain, |
yes |
General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) |
5 |
7 |
screening for the presence of anxiety disorder |
yes |
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) |
5 |
9 |
screening tool for depression as well as monitoring of depression and response to treatment |
no |
Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-4) |
<5 |
4 |
screening tool for depression and anxiety |
no |
Subjective Units of Distress |
<5 |
1 |
measures intensity of anxiety/distress/nervousness |
no |
Long-Term Symptom Questionnaire |
15-20 |
20 |
Impact of long-term health conditions on daily life |
no |
Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) |
<5 |
3 |
measures functional impairment in work, family and social life |
no |
Primary Care PTSD Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5) |
<5 |
5 |
screening for probable PTSD |
no |
Instrument |
Time to Administer (minutes) |
Instrument Length (# of items) |
Description |
Available in VA REDCap |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pain, Enjoyment of Life and General Activity (PEG) Scale |
<5 |
3 |
assesses impact of pain on daily life |
yes |
Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) |
5 |
6 |
assesses the impact of headaches on daily life |
no |
Clinical Recommendations on Survey Instruments for Long COVID:
Cognitive Impairment:
https://www.va.gov/covidtraining/docs/longCOVID/LongCOVID-Clinic-Guide-Nervous-System-09172024.pdf