Medical and Psychological Distress in Male COVID-19 Survivors with Lung Damage

During the COVID-19 pandemic, men proved to be more susceptive to the virus and demonstrated a more severe disease progress, which led to stress and anxiety. This research describes the factors affecting the stress severity in men as part of mental and somatic status during two years after lung damage induced by COVID-19. It included 41 male survivors (55 ± 11 y.o.) of COVID-19. The respondents were diagnosed for anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9), and stress (PSS-10), as well as examined by a cardiologist 3, 12, and 26 months after recovery. After 26 months, their emotional-personal sphere was examined for anxiety (ITT), coping (SSP), distress (SCL-90-R), and personality traits (5PFQ). While the body mass index had increased, the severity of anxiety, depression, and stress remained the same. A strong distress was detected in 31.7% of former COVID-19 patients with prevailing confrontation and escape-avoidance coping. This index correlated with such factors as extraversion vs. introversion (r=0.356, p=0.022) and emotionality vs. restraint (r=0.535, p<0.001). Three months after recovery, the stress severity increased as a result of anxiety. One year after recovery, it depended on the intensity of depression and lung damage in the acute period. Two years after recovery, it increased at high personality anxiety and low planning coping. The overall distress index correlated with personality anxiety and body mass index three months after recovery. The severity of stress did not exceed the normal stress level, while every third man in this group showed signs of distress. The intensity of stress reaction during two years after recovery depended on the degree of anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression proved to be significant factors increasing the stress reaction intensity during two years after recovery from COVID-19. The distress factors included strong confrontation and escape-avoidance strategies, as well as such personality traits as emotionality, extraversion, and anxiety.