The Psychological Sequelae of COVID-19 Among Disease Survivors in Argentina

Abstract

While more than a year has passed since the COVID-19 outbreak, it is still a growing health concern. Moreover, ample consensus exists for the presence of not only a physical but also a psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those reported as hardest hit were individuals who had been infected with COVID-19. Survivors have exhibited a higher prevalence of psychological morbidity—i.e., PTSD, depression, and anxiety— as compared with the general population and health workers. Additionally, COVID-19 patients and survivors have been psychologically impacted by a staggering number of disease-related stressors. The study was aimed at analyzing COVID-19's impact on the psychological state of Argentinian disease survivors. Two hundred and ninety-six COVID-19 survivors (67.2% female; Mage = 44.81; SDage = 12.16) from a major Buenos Aires hospital completed a questionnaire and a set of psychological measures — COVID-19 emotional impact, psychological sequelae, disease-related stressors, PTSD, and psychological distress. The most impactful psychological sequelae and disease stressors revolved around having the disease awaiting test results, fear of infecting loved ones, being apart from family and friends during the disease, fear of physical sequelae and symptoms, and returning to isolation. PTSD prevalence rates were 33.8%. Survivor's psychological distress levels were moderately higher than pre-COVID-era general population levels, yet not significantly different to pre-COVID-era clinical inpatients. Female gender, age, and hospital admission emerged as significant predictors of increased adverse psychological outcomes. Due intervention on COVID-19 survivors is urgently needed, with particular attention to the alarming PTSD prevalence rates found in the study.