Authors (including presenting author) :
Chan YY(1), Lam WY(1), Chan YH(1), Tsui F(1), Liang J(1), Ng YS(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Department of Family Medicine & Primary Health Care, New Territories West Cluster, Hospital Authority
Introduction :
Long COVID has significant clinical consequences, particularly psychologically affecting memory and concentration. Our General Outpatient Clinic's Integrated Mental Health Program (IMHP) serves patients with common mood disorders. With the advent of long COVID, concerns have increased regarding its potential to exacerbate psychological distress in these individuals.
Objectives :
This study aims to explore the impact of long COVID on the psychological well being of patients with mood disorders in the public primary care setting.
Methodology :
Patients utilizing IMHP services across three clinics in the NTWC cluster were included in this study. Surveys were conducted to detect psychological complications arising from long COVID and to assess their impact on the patients' quality of life.
Result & Outcome :
A total of 1135 patients attended the IMHP service from 6/7/2023 to 24/10/2023, of which 32 with known either depression, generalized anxiety disorder, or mixed anxiety depression disorder (MADD) reported psychological complications attributable to the long-term effects of COVID-19. These patients ranged from 32 to 88 years of age, with a mean age of 59.9 years, and comprised of 25 females and 7 males.
All participants reported that ongoing long COVID symptoms reduced their quality of life, which was reflected in a mean score of 6.8 on a 10-point scale. A significant difference was noted based on the duration post-diagnosis: those 3-6 months post-COVID-19 had a mean score of 7.5, versus 6.33 for those beyond 6 months (p=0.015). Other factors such as antiviral treatment, age, or chronic illness did not show significant differences. Chronic conditions did not drastically affect the scores, with a mean of 6.71 for those with chronic illness and 6.91 for those without. Although patients with cardiovascular complications had a higher average score of 7.25, this was not statistically significant.
Additionally, cognitive impairments were common among these patients: 28 reported impaired memory, and 21 had concentration difficulties.
This study underscores the exacerbation of psychological distress in patients with mood disorders due to long COVID, with a notable decline in quality of life and increased cognitive challenges. It highlights the need for early recognition and addressing the enduring impact of the pandemic on this vulnerable population.
