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Measuring the impact of COVID-19 on the quality of life of the survivors, partners and family members: a cross-sectional international online survey

Shah, Rubina, Ali, Faraz M., Nixon, Stuart J., Ingram, John R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5257-1142, Salek, Sam M. and Finlay, Andrew Y. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2143-1646 2021. Measuring the impact of COVID-19 on the quality of life of the survivors, partners and family members: a cross-sectional international online survey. BMJ Open 11 (5) , e047680. 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047680

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Abstract

Objective This study aimed to measure the impact of COVID-19 on the quality of life (QoL) of survivors and their partners and family members. Design and setting A prospective cross-sectional global online survey using social media. Participants Patients with COVID-19 and partners or family members (age ≥18 years). Intervention Online survey from June to August 2020. Main outcome measure The EuroQol group five dimensions three level (EQ-5D-3L) to measure the QoL of survivors of COVID-19, and the Family Reported Outcome Measure (FROM-16) to assess the impact on their partner/family member’s QoL. Results The survey was completed by 735 COVID-19 survivors (mean age=48 years; females=563) at a mean of 12.8 weeks after diagnosis and by 571 partners and 164 family members (n=735; mean age=47 years; females=246) from Europe (50.6%), North America (38.5%) and rest of the world (10.9%). The EQ-5D mean score for COVID-19 survivors was 8.65 (SD=1.9, median=9; range=6–14). 81.1% (596/735) reported pain and discomfort, 79.5% (584/735) problems with usual activities, 68.7% (505/735) anxiety and depression and 56.2% (413/735) problems with mobility. Hospitalised survivors (20.1%, n=148) and survivors with existing health conditions (30.9%, n=227) reported significantly more problems with mobility and usual activities (p<0.05), with hospitalised also experiencing more impact on self-care (p≤0.001). Among 735 partners and family members, the mean FROM-16 score (maximum score=highest impact =32) was 15 (median=15, range=0-32). 93.6% (688/735) reported being worried, 81.7% (601/735) frustrated, 78.4% (676/735) sad, 83.3% (612/735) reported impact on their family activities, 68.9% (507/735) on sleep and 68.1% (500/735) on their sex life. Conclusion COVID-19 survivors reported a major persisting impact on their physical and psychosocial health. The lives of their partners and other family members were also severely affected. There is a need for a holistic support system sensitive to the needs of COVID-19 survivors and their family members who experience a major ‘secondary burden’.

Item Type: Article
Date Type: Publication
Status: Published
Schools: Medicine
Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
ISSN: 2044-6055
Funders: Cardiff University
Date of First Compliant Deposit: 12 July 2021
Date of Acceptance: 20 April 2021
Last Modified: 03 May 2023 02:36
URI: https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/142526

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