Long COVID: risk factors, mental health and quality of life among Malaysian population

Beyond the considerable loss of life, many individuals who recovered from COVID-19 continue to experience severe and persistent long-term consequences. This survey was conducted among members of the general population in Malaysia who had experienced long COVID, with the aim of assessing its impact on mental health and overall quality of life (QoL). This cross-sectional study was conducted among the Malaysian population (aged ≥ 18 years) who had recently recovered from COVID-19 infection. Mental health status and quality of life (QoL) were evaluated using a questionnaire comprising four sections: sociodemographic information (9 items), long COVID symptoms (23 items), Negative Mental Health (NMH) (6 items), and the WHOQOL-BREF (22 items). Of the 384 respondents, the majority (80%) reported a decline in mental health. Among the 23 long COVID symptoms assessed, 17 showed significant associations (p < 0.05) with between one and six of the six mental health variables. The mean scores for the four QoL domains (physical, social, environmental, and psychological) were 48.28 (SD = 5.33), 51.71 (SD = 9.22), 52.46 (SD = 9.70), and 28.03 (SD = 8.04), respectively. Symptom-wise association analysis further revealed that 22 symptoms were significantly associated (p < 0.05) with between one and four of the QoL domains. The persistence of symptoms, poor mental health, and reduced QoL following COVID-19 are interrelated issues that warrant greater attention. Decisive action is essential to address the decline in mental health and QoL experienced by individuals in Malaysia affected by long COVID.