Influencing factors associated with quality of life and depression among COVID-19 survivors during convalescence

ABSTRACT

This study aims to investigate influencing factors of quality of life (QoL) and depression among COVID-19 survivors during convalescence. A cross-sectional study was conducted in November 2020 in Wuhan, China. Information on social support, physical activity, QoL and depressive symptoms were assessed using self-administered questionnaires. Multivariate linear regression and multivariate logistic regression were used to assess the risk factors of subdomains of QoL (physical component score (PCS) and mental component score (MCS)) and depression, respectively. A total of 151 COVID-19 survivors (68 males) aged 53.21 (SD: 12.70) years participated in the study. Multivariate linear regression showed that age (β=−0.241), history of chronic disease (β=−0.4.774), physical activity (β = 2.47) and social support (β = 0.147) were significantly associated with PCS, while having a spouse (β = 9.571), monthly income (β = 0.043) and social support (β = 0.337) were significantly associated with MCS. Logistic regression suggested that participants aged 40–60 years (OR = 10.20, 95%CI: 1.41–73.82) or above 60 years (OR = 15.63, 95%CI: 1.87–131.00), with high school or above education (OR = 5.81, 95%CI: 1.24–27.20), with low/moderate physical activity (low, OR = 2.97, 95%CI: 1.14–7.77; moderate, OR = 3.42, 95%CI: 1.07–10.91) and low/medium social support (low, OR = 4.81, 95% CI: 2.02–11.43; medium, OR = 9.70, 95%CI: 1.17–80.10) were more likely to be depressed, while higher monthly income (≥3000 Yuan RMB/month) was associated with lower risk for depression (OR = 0.27, 95%CI: 0.09–0.82). These findings indicate COVID-19 survivors with older age, having chronic conditions, without a spouse, low monthly income, low level of physical activity and social support had significantly increased risks for poor QoL and depression, and more attention should be given to this population.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19 survivors
• quality of life
• depression
• risk factors

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Wuhan Municipal Health Commission Special Scientific Research Fund for COVID-19 Prevention (EX20C5), Seed Funding of Wuhan University-Duke Kunshan University Joint Research Platform (WHUDKUZZJJ202203) and China–Australia Research Cooperation and High-level Talents Training Program in Nutrition and Health Research, China Scholarship Council (2022-No.1007)