Investigating HEALTH related quality of life in COVİD 19 survivors

COVID 19 has emerged at the end of 2019 and became a worldwide pandemic. Beside the mortality and morbidity during acute illness, prolonged symptoms and thus a negative effect on health related quality of life has been reported. The aim of this study is to evaluate the health related quality of life and associated parameters in patients hospitalized for COVID 19 infection in the first 6 months after discharge. This study includes 80 patients who are hospitalized in Hacettepe University Clinics from 01.08.2021 to 31.05.2022. Health related quality of life was evaluated by SF-36. Demographic, clinical and laboratory features of the patients were recorded retrospectively. Association between patient and disease related factors and the 8 domain of SF-36 were evaluated by univariate and regression analysis. Age (p>0.001, B:-0.615, CI:-0.906,-0.324), length of stay (p=0.023, B:-0.892, CI:-1.660, -0.125), having cancer (p=0.003, B:-19.938, CI:-32.976, -6.9) or cardiac disease (p=0.011, B:-14.097, CI:-24.857, -3.338) were negatively associated with physical function. Being treated with favipiravir was positively associated with physical function (p=0.049, B:7.508, CI:0.001, 15.015). Length of stay (p=0.003, B:-2.01, CI:-3.322, -0.698), having cancer (p>0.001, B:-45.5, CI:-69.533, -21.467) or lung disease (p=0.047, B:-19.473, CI:-38.644, -0.302) or cardiac disease (p=0.004, B:-27.772, CI:-46.640, -8.904) were negatively associated with physical role functioning. Age (p=0.016, B:-0.433, CI:-0.784, -0.082), female sex (p=0.024,B:-10.276, CI:-19.171, -1.382), having cancer (p=0.007, B:-20.226, CI:-34.734, -5.717) or cardiac disease(p=0.018, B:-15.434, CI:-28.117, -2.750) were negatively associated with social functioning. Female sex (p=0.021, B:-12.438, CI:-22.977, -1.898) and having lung disease (p=0.007, B:-19.087, CI:-32.684, -5.490) were negatively associated with bodily pain. Being treated with favipiravir (p=0.035, B:11.521, CI:0.830, 22.213) and being on steroid by a different indication (p=0.013, B:30.071, CI:6.411, 53.732) were positively associated with bodily pain. Female sex (p=0.023, B:-10.215, CI:-18.985, -1.445) and having cardiac disease (p=0.005, B:-16.484, CI:-27.893, -5.074) were negatively associated with general health. Age was negatively associated with both emotional role functioning (p=0.009, B:-0.645, CI:-1.121, -0.169) and vitality (p=0.021, B:-0.283, CI:-0.520, -0.045). No risk factors were identified for mental health. As a result, some parameters associated with health related quality of life in COVID 19 survivors were identified in this study. Larger studies are needed on this subject. Keywords: COVID 19, health related quality of life, Post COVID syndrome