Prevalence of Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms and Its Associations With Quality of Life, Demographic and Clinical Characteristics in COVID-19 Survivors During the Post-COVID-19 Era.

Yuan Yuan,Zi-Han Liu,Yan-Jie Zhao,Guo-Qing Jiang,Qinge Zhang,Yu-Tao Xiang,Ling Zhang,Todd Jackson,Teris Cheung

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.665507

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in COVID-19 survivors is unclear. This study examined the prevalence of PTSS and its association with quality of life (QOL) among COVID-19 survivors during the post-COVID-19 era in China.Methods: This was a comparative, cross-sectional study. PTSS, depressive symptoms, and QOL were assessed with standardized instruments.Results: A total of 134 COVID-19 survivors and 214 non-infected controls (healthy controls hereafter) were recruited. Among COVID-19 survivors, the PTSS prevalence was 18.66% (95%CI: 11.98–25.34%), which was significantly higher than that (5.61%, 95%CI: 2.50–8.71%) of healthy controls (P < 0.001). After controlling for covariates, an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed that COVID-19 survivors had a higher PTSS total score than did healthy controls [F(1,348) = 4.664, P = 0.032]. A separate ANCOVA revealed there were no significant differences in overall QOL between COVID-19 survivors with and without PTSS [F(1,348) = 1.067, P = 0.304]. A multiple logistic regression analysis showed that more severe depressive symptoms were significantly associated with PTSS in COVID-19 survivors (OR = 1.425, P < 0.001).Conclusions: PTSS were more severe in COVID-19 survivors compared to healthy controls in the post-COVID-19 era. Considering their negative impact on daily life and functional outcomes, regular assessment and appropriate treatments of PTSS should be conducted in COVID-19 survivors.

Highlights

Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first reported in Wuhan, Hubei province in December 2019, it has been found in over 200 countries and territories as a pandemic
As of the middle of 2020, the COVID-19 epidemic had been well-controlled in China, imported cases were identified in some areas occasionally [1]
This cross-sectional study was conducted between May 27 and September 4, 2020 at the Chongqing Mental Health Center which was responsible for follow-up assessments of mental health among all COVID-19 survivors in Chongqing Municipality

Summary

Introduction

Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first reported in Wuhan, Hubei province in December 2019, it has been found in over 200 countries and territories as a pandemic. The Chinese health authority reported that 100,877 people had been infected by January 2021, of whom, 93,449 (92.64%) had recovered [2]. In Chongqing, the first COVID-19 case was found in January 2020. Previous studies have found that long-term psychological distress, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), may result from infectious disease outbreaks among survivors [3, 4]. The prevalence of post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) in COVID-19 survivors is unclear. This study examined the prevalence of PTSS and its association with quality of life (QOL) among COVID-19 survivors during the post-COVID-19 era in China

Methods

Results

Conclusion