Frontiers in Psychology (May 2024)

Effect of long COVID-19 syndrome on health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional study

  • Arthur Nascimento Rodrigues,
  • Alna Carolina Mendes Paranhos,
  • Livia Caroline Machado da Silva,
  • Stanley Soares Xavier,
  • Camilla Costa Silva,
  • Rosilene da Silva,
  • Lidiane Assunção de Vasconcelos,
  • Ivonete Vieira Pereira Peixoto,
  • Tatiana Menezes Noronha Panzetti,
  • Priscila Rodrigues Tavares,
  • Cíntia de Sousa Reis,
  • Beatriz Freitas Launé,
  • Vera Regina da Cunha Menezes Palácios,
  • Pedro Fernando da Costa Vasconcelos,
  • Juarez Antônio Simões Quaresma,
  • Juarez Antônio Simões Quaresma,
  • Juarez Antônio Simões Quaresma,
  • Luiz Fábio Magno Falcão,
  • Luiz Fábio Magno Falcão

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1394068
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15

Abstract

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PurposeThis study aimed to assess the association of anxiety, headache, and insomnia on the QoL of patients with long COVID-19.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey between August 2020 and March 2023. A total of 200 participants were eligible, 53 were excluded and 147 patients with long COVID were included. QoL was evaluated across eight domains using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Standardized protocols including the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) (n = 103), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) (n = 73), and Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) (n = 67) were also used.ResultsParticipants with sleep disorders had significantly lower Vitality (p < 0.001). Participants with anxiety disorders had significantly lower Vitality (p = 0.001), poorer Mental Health (p = 0.008), and more severe Bodily Pain (p = 0.008). Participants with headache had significantly lower Vitality (p = 0.032), poorer Mental Health (p = 0.036), and poorer Physical Functioning (p = 0.016). Participants with both headache and anxiety had significantly lower Vitality (p = 0.005) and Mental Health (p = 0.043) domain scores. Correlation analysis revealed that higher scores for anxiety, sleep disorder, and headache were independently correlated with poorer QoL across various domains. The presence of sleep disorder was associated with a fourfold increase in risk of experiencing diminished Vitality (odds ratio [OR]4.47; 95% CI 1.01–19.69; p = 0.048).ConclusionParticipants with anxiety, sleep, and headache disorders tended to have a worse QoL. The Vitality and Mental Health domains were the most adversely affected in patients with long COVID. Sleep disorders were associated with a fourfold increase in the risk of poor Vitality.

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