Reported quality of life in countries with cases of COVID19: a systematic review

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Considering the relevance of the quality of life (QoL) and the consequences of the 2019 new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) due to the social distancing, this systematic review aimed to summarize effects of the COVID-19 in the QoL of the studied populations.

Areas covered

Four databases, the methodological quality and the risk of bias in selected publications were investigated. Seven thousand and fifty-one individuals from Italy, Saudi Arabia, China, and Vietnam. Online system and printed questionnaires were used to assess the QoL, as patients affected by primary antibody deficiencies, residents, people from endemic and no endemic regions, and individuals with COVID-19. Different types of questionnaires are utilized to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The methodological quality of three papers was good with low risk of bias and a decrease in the QoL.

Expert opinion

The QoL of studies populations where COVID-19 was reported, worsened. Nevertheless, considering some indicators (infant mortality, average income, life expectancy, health coverage, and average schooling years), the standard of life and subsequently the quality of life among the presented countries (China, Vietnam, Italy, and Saudi Arabia) are different. Therefore, the simple comparison of these populations and the conclusions from this comparison must be done carefully.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• health-related quality of life
• physical health
• social distancing
• quality of life

Article highlights

• World Health Organization (WHO) deems in the definition of the quality of life (QoL) as the general perception of an individual of their position in the life (i) considering the culture and value systems and (ii) in relation to expectations, goals, standards, and concerns.

• COVID-19 can lead to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) and results in severe stresses to the health-care systems. Most infected patients have mild symptoms including fever, fatigue, and cough, but in severe cases, the disease can progress quickly to acute respiratory distress syndrome, septic shock, metabolic acidosis, and coagulopathy.

• The QoL of the individuals of studied populations where COVID-19 was reported, worsened, even considering that the standard of living between the countries presented is different.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Brazilian agencies (FAPERJ, CNPq) for the support.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq).