Satar S, Şahin ME, Ergün P. Health related quality of life and its determinants in COVID-19 patients.
Tuberk Toraks 2023;
71:250-260. [PMID:
37740628 PMCID:
PMC10795277 DOI:
10.5578/tt.20239706]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction
One of COVID-19’s limitations is the reduced quality of life (QoL) caused by variety of underlying reasons. Even though multiple papers in the literature reveal a worsening of QoL after COVID-19, there is currently inadequate evidence on which patients’ QoL is impacted the most. Our study’s aim was to determine which patients’ quality of life was most compromised so that interventions for poor QoL should not be overlooked in the post-disease assessments of those in the risk group.
Materials and Methods
Patients referred to our pulmonary rehabilitation center for Long COVID symptoms had their dyspnea perception, body composition, exercise capacity, muscle strengths, and psychological state evaluated. In addition, SF-36 was used to assess their QoL. After obtaining all medical data, the patients were separated into three groups based on whether they had the disease as an outpatient, inpatient in the hospital, or in the intensive care unit. The Anova and Kruskal Wallis tests were utilized in the statistical analysis of demographic data among patient groups. Pearson’s test was used for normal distributions, whereas Spearman’s test was used for non-normal distribution analyses. The factors affecting QoL were investigated using multivariate linear regression analysis.
Results
The majority of 173 study participants had poor QoL. Low exercise capacity (p= 0.026), impaired psychosocial status (p= 0.034 for anxiety, p= 0.022 for depression), and increased fatigue (p= 0.001) were the factors affecting SF-36’s physical component summary (PCS), whereas young age (p= 0.026), male sex (p= 0.037), impaired psychosocial status (p< 0.001 for anxiety, p= 0.002 for depression), and increased fatigue (p= 0.005) were the factors affecting the SF-36’s mental component summary (MCS).
Conclusion
Young age, male sex, reduced exercise capacity, poor psychosocial status, and increased fatigue are predictors for impaired QoL after COVID19. Therefore, non-medical treatment options that improve QoL should be considered in the follow-up of these patients.
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