The long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and quality of life: a retrospective cohort study in northern Vietnam

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the mental disturbances among COVID-19 survivors while also examining their quality of life. A retrospective cohort study was conducted among COVID-19 survivors in northern Vietnam. Anxiety, depression, insomnia, cognitive impairment, and quality of life were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Mini-Cog, and Short Form-8 (SF-8), respectively. Information regarding COVID and post-COVID conditions was retrospectively collected through direct interviews. Ordinal logistic regression was employed to identify factors associated with the severity of depression and anxiety; binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with the presence of sleep disturbance and cognitive impairment, and linear regression was utilized to identify factors associated with the mental and physical components of the SF-8. A total of 1596 participants were included in this study, with the prevalence of depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and cognitive impairment being 8.7%, 16.9%, 23.4%, and 5.6%, respectively. Experiencing discrimination during COVID-19 infection and post-COVID syndrome were both linked to long-term outcomes of depression, anxiety, and insomnia and were also related to a decline in the quality of life. Our study provided initial insights into the mental outcomes and quality of life among COVID-19 survivors over an extended period, with stigmatization and post-COVID syndrome identified as the primary associated factors. A longitudinal study with random sampling, a control group, and measures to better control recall bias is recommended.