[Post-traumatic stress and quality of life of post-COVID-19 patients in primary care].

OBJECTIVE

To determine the association between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of post-COVID-19 patients in primary care.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional, multicenter, random probability sampling study.

LOCATION: Primary care centers in Ica-Peru.

PARTICIPANTS

Six hundred and thirty-six patients with previous diagnosis of COVID-19.

MAIN MEASURES: The variable PTSD symptoms was measured with the COVID-19-PTSD questionnaire and HRQOL with the EuroQol scale (EQ-5D). Sociodemographic and health factors including post-COVID-19 syndrome were analyzed. A descriptive analysis was performed and crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) were calculated using generalized linear models of the Poisson family to search for associations between variables.

RESULTS

Of the participants, 21.4% presented symptoms of PTSD; 33.6% symptoms of dysphoric and anxious arousal; 22.3% intrusion, avoidance and negative affect; 22.6% anhedonia; and 23.6% externalizing behavior. 50.3% revealed at least one component of HRQoL affected; 35.5% problems linked to anxiety/depression; 34.9% pain/discomfort; 11% daily activity; 10.7% mobility and 6.6% self-care. The presence of PTSD symptoms was associated with the HRQoL affected (PR=2.46: 95% CI: 2.19-2.78). Also, certain sociodemographic and health variables were associated with PTSD symptoms and affected HRQoL.

CONCLUSIONS

PTSD symptoms, increase the probability of affecting the patient's HRQoL post COVID-19. There are potentially modifiable sociodemographic and health variables that could decrease PTSD symptoms and improve HRQoL.