Psychological Distress among Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients in Denmark during the First 12 Months of the Pandemic

Ellen Moseholm (), Julie Midtgaard, Signe Bollerup, Ása D. Apol, Oskar B. Olesen, Sofie Jespersen and Nina Weis
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Ellen Moseholm: Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Kettegaard Alle 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
Julie Midtgaard: Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health Care (CARMEN), Mental Health Centre Glostrup, University of Copenhagen, Nordstjernevej 41, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark
Signe Bollerup: Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Kettegaard Alle 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
Ása D. Apol: Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Kettegaard Alle 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
Oskar B. Olesen: Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Kettegaard Alle 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
Sofie Jespersen: Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Kettegaard Alle 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
Nina Weis: Department of Infectious Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Hvidovre, Kettegaard Alle 30, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 16, 1-17

Abstract: This study aimed to investigate psychological distress among patients hospitalized with a COVID-19 diagnosis in Denmark during the first 12 months of the pandemic and to assess changes in psychological distress in the three months following discharge. A single-center prospective observational survey study among patients hospitalized with a COVID-19 diagnosis between May 2020 and May 2021 was conducted. Participants completed a survey at three time points: at admission, and 1 and 3 months after discharge. Psychological distress was assessed by validated scales measuring symptoms related to depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). In total, 95 patients were included. At admission, the proportion of patients with symptoms of depression was 43%, symptoms of anxiety 32%, moderate/high level of stress 39%, insomnia 52%, and probable/positive PTSD 19%. The burden of symptoms related to depression and anxiety decreased significantly over time, while there was no significant change over time in stress, insomnia, or PTSD. Suboptimal levels of physical and mental HRQoL were detected at admission but improved over time. Patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 during the first year of the pandemic experienced considerable levels of psychological distress at admission, with some improvements within 3 months after discharge.

Keywords: COVID-19; hospitalization; psychological distress; anxiety; depression; HRQoL (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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