Quality of Life and Psychiatric Symptoms in Post-COVID-19 Patients Six Months after Discharge: A Prospective Study Six Months Post-Discharge

Leila  Namvar; Pooya  Jalali; Sara  Farhang; Fatemeh  Motedaien; Neda  Gilani; Mehran  Rahimi; Sahar  Taher; Leila  Jahangiry

doi:10.18502/jimc.v8i4.19534

Leila Namvar Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Pooya Jalali Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch, Tabriz, Iran
Sara Farhang Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Fatemeh Motedaien Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Neda Gilani Tabriz Health Services Management Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Mehran Rahimi Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch, Tabriz, Iran
Sahar Taher Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Leila Jahangiry Tabriz Health Services Management Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jimc.v8i4.19534

Keywords: Anxiety; COVID-19; Depression; Quality of life; Stress; SARS-COV-2

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study is to prospectively assess the quality of life and psychiatric symptoms in individuals who have been discharged after COVID-19, with a specific focus on understanding the enduring effects six months post-discharge and contributing valuable information for comprehensive post-COVID-19 care strategies.

Methods: This prospective study enrolled 99 patients with COVID-19 who visited the university outpatient clinic and 92 healthy age and gender matched individuals without COVID-19. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-59 (DASS-59) assessed stress, anxiety, and depression severity. For evaluating the Quality of life (QOL), the World Health Organization Quality-of-Life Scale (WHO QOL-BREF) questionnaire was employed. Multiple linear regression model addressed confounding factors including case group, age, gender, education, employment status, and marital status.

Results: This study included 92 COVID-19 patients and 92 age and sex-matched healthy individuals. For the COVID-19 patient group, significant positive associations were found across all the psychiatric symptoms, with β values of 8.52 for depression, 11.62 for stress, and 8.15 for anxiety, all with p-values less than 0.001, indicating strong statistical significance. Conversely, quality of life was negatively impacted (β= -9.57, p<0.0001) that post-COVID-19 patients exhibited significantly higher levels of depression, stress, and anxiety, with notable declines in quality of life, particularly among older individuals and the unemployed.

Conclusion: The results of this study highlight the multifaceted impact of COVID-19 on mental health and quality of life, emphasizing the need for comprehensive care that addresses both physical and psychological recovery.