Early Mental Health and Quality of Life in Discharged Patients With COVID-19

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to analyze the early mental health (MH) and quality of life (QoL) of discharged patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which can provide a scientific basis for the further development of intervention programs.Methods: In total, 108 subjects participated in this study, including an experimental group (90 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 from March to April 2020 and hospitalized in Wuhan China Resources & WISCO General Hospital, Wuhan, China, 83.3%) and a control group (18 healthy participants, 16.7%). Their MH and QoL were measured through the 12-item Short Form Health Survey version 2 (SF-12v2), the Self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), the Self-rating depression scale (SDS), and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The results of questionnaires were compared between these two groups.Results: (1) Comparison of anxiety status: among 90 discharged patients with COVID-19, 30 patients (33.3%) had a state of anxiety. Compared with healthy participants and the general population, patients with COVID-19 in the early stages of discharge had a higher incidence of anxiety and more severe anxiety symptoms (P < 0.05). (2) Comparison of depression status: among 90 discharged patients with COVID-19, 29 patients (32.2%) had a state of depression. Compared with healthy participants and the general population, patients with COVID-19 in the early stages of discharge had a higher incidence of depression and more severe depression symptoms (P < 0.05). (3) Comparison of QoL: 78 patients (86.7%) presented a decrease in physical health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and 73 patients (81.1%) presented a decrease in psychology-related QoL. The SF-12v2 physical component summary (PCS) and the SF-12v2 mental component summary (MCS) of patients were significantly lower than those of healthy people, especially in physical function (PF), vitality (VT), social function (SF), and mental health (MH) (all P < 0.05). (4) Gender differences in mental health and the QoL among patients with COVID-19: women had more severe anxiety/depression symptoms than men (P < 0.05). The scores of women in all dimensions of SF-12V2 were lower than those of men, and there were statistically significant differences between the two groups in PCS, PF, general health (GH), VT, and role-emotional (RE) (P < 0.05).Conclusion: During the early phase after being discharged, patients with COVID-19 might experience negative emotions, such as anxiety or depression, and also problems with reduced QoL, especially among female patients. Therefore, an intervention plan should focus on strengthening psychological condition and improving physical function, and gender-specific rehabilitation programmes should be adapted to improve psychological status and QoL.

Functioning issues in inpatients affected by COVID-19-related moderate pulmonary impairment: a real-practice observational study

“…This issue has not been as well investigated in acute patients as it has in patients with long-COVID syndrome 22 and discharged patients. 23 Patients affected by COVID-19 complain of several signs and symptoms involving systems other than the respiratory system. Indeed, since the beginning of the pandemic, the heavy impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on different body systems has been clear, with a negative influence on body functions, activities, and social participation.…”

“…This issue has not been as well investigated in acute patients as it has in patients with long-COVID syndrome 22 and discharged patients. 23…”

COVID-19 nedenli sosyal izolasyonun yaşlılarda COVID-19 korkusu, yaşam kalitesi ve bilişsel işlevler üzerindeki etkisi

“…In the study conducted by Yang et al in 2021, it was established that women with COVID-19 had more severe psychological symptoms than men, and these symptoms also significantly affected the quality of life 21 . According to findings obtained from many epidemiological studies, women carry a higher risk in terms of psychological consequences 22 .…”

Quality of Life in Post-COVID-19 Patients after Hospitalization

“…Previous studies reported that patients with COVID-19 in the early period after discharge had reduced QoL, higher incidences of anxiety, and more severe anxiety symptoms, particularly women [ 14 ]. In our study, females had an incidence of anxiety and depression three-to-four times higher than that of males 5 months after diagnosis and admission.…”