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

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.