The Fear of COVID-19: Effects on Psychosocial Factors and Quality of Life in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis

Abstract

Objective: Psychosocial effects have been reported in patients with cystic fibrosis (pwCFs), which is chronic disease, and inconsistent results were observed in pandemic between studies. This study investigated the effects of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on anxiety, depression and quality of life (QoL) levels among pwCFs. Material and Methods: The data of all participants included in the study were collected through two web-based questionnaires, one for pwCFs and general population (GP) controls. Two questionnaire versions had similar questions, prepared by the researchers. The pwCFs questionnaire augmented with CF targeted questions. Also, both questionnaires included COVID-19 Fear Scale, Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) and World Health Organization QoL Scale Short Form (WHOQOL-Bref) question items. Results: Sixty-four pwCFs and seventy GP controls completed the questionnairesCompared to GP controls, pwCFs had increased fear of COVID-19, anxiety, depression, and decreased QoL levels (p<0.001). The fear of COVID-19 had significant effects on anxiety (R2=0.506; p<0.001), depression (R2=0.337; p<0.001), and QoL domains of general health status (R2=0.095; p=0.013), physical (R2=0.239; p<0.001) and psychological health (R2=0.275; p<0.001), and environment (R2=0.179; p<0.001), but not on social relationships (p>0.05) in pwCFs. In GP controls, the fear of COVID-19 had significant effects on anxiety and depression (p<0.05), but not on any QoL domains (p>0.05). Conclusion: According to our study findings, theincrease in fear of COVID-19 had a negative impact on anxiety, depression and QoL in pwCFs.Psychosocial influences in pwCFs need to be further investigated in future cross-sectional studies in case of a possible pandemic and lockdown.