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Abstract
Close contacts of those with COVID-19 (CC) may experience distress and long-lasting mental health effects. However, the mental health status and quality of life (QOL) in CC have not been adequately examined. This study examined the mental health status and QOL in CC during the post-COVID-19 period. This cross-sectional study comprised 1169 CC and 1290 who were non-close contacts (non-CC). Demographic data were collected; depression, fatigue, post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and QOL were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire - 9 items (PHQ-9), fatigue numeric rating scale, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist - 17 items (PCL-17), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire - brief version (WHOQOL-BREF), respectively. Analysis of covariance was used to compare depressive symptoms, QOL, fatigue, and PTSS between the CC and non-CC groups. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the independent correlates for depression, fatigue, PTSS, and QOL in the CC group. Compared to the non-CC group, the CC group reported significantly more severe depression (F(1, 2458) = 5.58, p = 0.018) and fatigue (F(1, 2458) = 9.22, p = 0.002) in the post-COVID-19 period. No significant differences in PTSS and QOL between the CC and non-CC groups were found (F(1, 2458) = 2.93, p = 0.087 for PTSS; F(1, 2458) = 3.45, p = 0.064 for QOL). In the CC group, younger age, financial loss due to COVID-19, and perception of poor or fair health status were significantly associated with depression and fatigue, while frequent use of mass media was significantly associated with fatigue. In conclusion, close contacts of COVID-19 patients experienced high levels of depression and fatigue in the post-COVID-19 period. Due to the negative effects of depression and fatigue on daily functioning, early detection and timely interventions should be provided to this neglected population.
Highlights
At the end of 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first reported in Wuhan, Hubei province of China and subsequently was found in other parts of the world [1, 2]
Due to its fast transmission rate, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic on March 11, 2020 [3]
Research has focused on patients with COVID-19 [5, 6], few studies have reported on the close contacts of COVID-19 patients (CC hereafter)
Summary
At the end of 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first reported in Wuhan, Hubei province of China and subsequently was found in other parts of the world [1, 2]. Due to its fast transmission rate, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic on March 11, 2020 [3]. By the middle of March 2021, there were over 117 million COVID-19 cases globally with 2.6 million deaths. Research has focused on patients with COVID-19 [5, 6], few studies have reported on the close contacts of COVID-19 patients (CC hereafter). Close contacts are at high risk of contracting COVID-19 infection [7,8,9,10]. Restrictions imposed on them, including mandatory quarantine in designated places or at home and frequent virus testing [11, 12], can increase the risk of physical and mental health problems
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