Beyond ECMO Survival: Long-Term Symptom Burden and Quality-of-Life Impairment in Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome Survivors

Andes virus (ANDV) is the leading cause of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) in South America, a severe zoonosis with high mortality. Advances in critical care and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) have significantly improved survival rates; however, data on recovery beyond survival remain limited. This multicenter cohort study enrolled laboratory-confirmed HCPS survivors in Chile between 2021 and 2024, with follow-up at 3–6 months post-symptom onset to assess physical and neuropsychological sequelae. Participants were stratified by ECMO requirement and the clinical severity of HCPS, and evaluated using self-reported recovery, standardized symptom questionnaires, and EQ-5D quality-of-life instruments. Among 21 survivors (11 ECMO, 10 non-ECMO), 61.9% reported incomplete recovery. While 60–70% of patients received general medical follow-up, only 30% of non-ECMO patients—compared to all ECMO patients—had contact with a rehabilitation provider. Motor dysfunction and palpitations were more frequent in ECMO survivors; however, Jaccard index analysis revealed clustering of physical and neuropsychological symptoms across both groups. EQ-5D assessments showed comparable quality-of-life impairment, though non-ECMO survivors more often reported pain/discomfort (90.0% vs. 63.6%) and higher rates of analgesic self-medication. These findings highlight the burden of persistent symptoms after HCPS and the need for multidisciplinary post-discharge care in endemic regions.