COVID-19 Aftermath: A Cross-Sectional Study Of Quality Of Life In Patients Visiting Post Covid OPD Of Tertiary Health Care Centre

BACKGROUND: COVID had a huge impact on quality of life of patients after being infected from the virus. Is this impact independent or influenced by comorbid psychopathology, is a matter of research and discussion? AIMS: To study of quality of life in patients visiting post COVID OPD and influence of psychiatric comorbidities and various factors on it. DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY: The study is a cross sectional observational study done in Post COVID Out Patient Department of Tertiary Health Care Centre. After ethical clearance, 300 participants (male and female) falling in the age group of 18-65 years, who had suffered from COVID-19 infection were included. Information was recorded in semi structured proformas and WHOQOL-Brief was used to assess quality of life and SCL-90 was utilized to screen psychiatric symptoms. STATISTICS: Data was analyzed with the help of SPSS-22 software. Chi square test for nominal data, Unpaired t- test for ordinal data and Annova test for interval data was applied to obtain a p value (p<0.05 was considered statistically significant). RESULTS: Quality of life in patients post COVID 19 infection was found to be negatively correlated with SCL-90 score and correlation was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: COVID-19 not only affected patients while they were infected, but impacted quality of life even after the remission and the developed psychopathology has an underpinning. Thus, as a psychiatrist we have a greater responsibility than ever to reduce the impact post COVID pandemic and prevent a “latent pandemic”, of mental illnesses.