Post-COVID anxiety, depression, and quality of life among Egyptian hemodialysis patients.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: This study examined the impact of Coronavirus disease 2019  on anxiety, depression, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among Egyptian hemodialysis (HD) patients. METHODS: This multicenter cross-sectional study was carried out in Egypt in the years 2021-2022, where 300 HD patients from four HD centers were allocated into two groups post-COVID and non-COVID. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Kidney Disease QOL-36 questionnaire were used to assess anxiety, depression, and QOL of the included patients. RESULTS: In the post-COVID group, abnormal and borderline cases of anxiety and depression were detected in 38.6% and 62.5% of patients, respectively, with no statistically significant difference between both groups. The post-COVID group showed higher work status and lower sexual and physical functioning, which correlated negatively with anxiety and depression scores. CONCLUSION: Past-COVID infection did not influence depression and anxiety symptoms in HD patients. Sexual and physical functioning were more affected among COVID-survivors.