Description
Abstract
Background: COVID-19 has immensely affected the mental health of all people with prominent effects amongst the COVID-19 survivors who underwent hospitalization. The evidence on the long term mental health implications among the recovered COVID-19 patients remains unknown in Nepal. The study aimed to assess the mental health status and the associated risk factors among the patients recovered from COVID-19.
Methods: An analytical- cross-sectional study was conducted from May to August 2021 among 281 COVID-19 recovered patients of Dhulikhel Hospital, Nepal. Telephone interviews were conducted to collect the data using structured questionnaires along with Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the risk factors for anxiety and depression.
Results: The prevalence of anxiety and depression were 38.8% (95% CI: 33.23-44.65), and 30.9 % (95% CI: 25.79-36.64) respectively. Participants who perceived higher stigma reported higher odds of anxiety (OR=1.14; 95% CI: 1.06-1.24), and depression (OR=1.19; 95% CI: 1.07-1.33) compared to those with lower. The participants who had perceived higher level of support from friends had significantly lower odds of having anxiety symptoms compared to those with lower support. The oldest participants aged 56-65 years (OR=4.56, 95%CI: 1.04-19.91), the participants being a health worker (OR=4.51, 95% CI: 1.12-18.04), and the participants who received COVID-19 information from radio (OR=2.27; 95% CI: 1.00-5.13) and friends (OR=2.57; 95% CI: 1.23-5.36) had higher depression symptoms. Similarly, the participants with a recovery duration of 3 -6 months (OR=0.12, 95% CI: 0.02-0.65) and 7 months and more (OR=0.32, 95% CI: 0.14-0.70) had lesser depression symptoms.
Conclusion:
Greater prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms among the recovered COVID-19 patients demands a need to design and implement appropriate mental health interventions. This could be done through psychosocial support and counselling services in health facilities, mental health service in emergency situation and post-discharge rehabilitation programs.
Key words: Depression, anxiety, COVID-19 recovered patients, hospitalization, Nepal
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