CHANGES IN QUALITY OF LIFE IN INDIVIDUALS WITH A SEVERE COURSE OF THE COVID-19 DISEASE 6 MONTHS AFTER THE END OF HOSPITALISATION

Abstract

Background: Between 2021 and 2022, the world faced a pandemic of the viral disease Covid-19, caused by the SARS-CoV2 virus. This disease had a severe course with long-term consequences for many patients.

Objective: The main objective of this study was to investigate the impact of Covid-19 on the quality of life of people hospitalized with a severe course of the disease in an intensive care unit (ICU) after 6 months of the discharge  compared to the acute phase of the disease and depending on selected risk factors.

Methods: Using the method of available selection, a group of 15 patients (8 male and 7 female) of age 20-90 years, was selected from patients hospitalized at the Covid-19 ICU of the Vinohrady University Hospital. The impact of the Covid-19 disease on the quality of life was determined using the SF-36 questionnaire which was administered first during hospitalization and then in a follow-up after 6 months.

Results: Six months after hospitalization, the respondents´ quality of life increased statistically significantly. However, the quality of life was still reduced in social aspects, in the dimension of physical functioning, physical limitations, vitality and mental health. Length of a hospitalization, number of comorbidities, and individual diseases had an effect on some of the dimensions or specific questions of the SF-36 questionnaire.

Conclusion: The research confirmed the impact of the Covid-19 disease on quality of life in almost all its aspects and its influence by comorbidities. Today, thanks to the availability of a vaccine, the situation may be different in many ways, so further research on this issue would be advisable.