Analysis of Anxiety and Influencing Factors in Kidney Transplant Recipients and General Public During the COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on mental health worldwide. Kidney transplant recipients represent a vulnerable population that may experience increased anxiety due to their health concerns and the risk of infection. This study aims to delve into the psychological anxiety levels and influential factors of kidney transplant patients during the Omicron variant of COVID-19 pandemic in China. MATERIAL/METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted using an online survey questionnaire to investigate the anxiety levels of 203 kidney transplant recipients and 53 individuals from the general population. The Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) was employed to evaluate anxiety levels, and the influencing factors affecting anxiety levels were analyzed for both cohorts. RESULTS: Among the cohort of the 203 kidney transplant recipients, 28 individuals (13.8%) had symptoms indicative of anxiety, with an average SAS score of 40.5±9.0. Out of the 53 individuals from the general population, 9 (17.0%) had symptoms of anxiety, with an average SAS score of 39.6±10.7. Notably, females and those with chronic respiratory diseases within the general population showed higher anxiety levels, and having a chronic respiratory condition was found to be an independent risk factor for anxiety levels in the general population. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation demonstrates that anxiety levels in kidney transplant recipients and the general population were comparable during the Omicron variant of COVID-19 pandemic. However, kidney transplant patients showed more stable anxiety levels.