Factors Affecting Fatigue in Patients with Post-COVID-19 Condition
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Abstract
Fatigue in Patients with post-COVID-19 can lead to chronic symptoms that affect daily life and can also lead to reduced functional ability, resulting in a prolonged poor quality of life.
Purpose: To study the predictive power of age, body mass index, severity of COVID-19, and depression on fatigue in post-COVID-19 patients.
Design: Predictive correlational research design.
Methods: The sample selected via convenience sampling was comprised of 120 post-COVID-19 male and female patients who came for a follow-up session at a medical unit, outpatient department of a super tertiary hospital in Bangkok. Eligible subjects were aged 18 years or above, and well literate. Data were collected from September to November 2023. The questionnaires included a record form of personal and illness information, the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue Scale and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis.
Main findings: An average age of the sample was 53.88 years (SD = 13.75) of which 78.3% were females. The sample experienced fatigue at the severe level at 21.7% and mild level at 78.3%. Age, body mass index, severity of COVID-19, and depression could together account for 33.2% of the variance explained in the fatigue (R2 = .33). Only age and depression could significantly predict the fatigue symptom in post-COVID-19 patients ( = - .22, p < .05 and
= - .54, p < .001, respectively). Depression was the strongest predictor of fatigue in patients with post-COVID-19 condition.
Conclusion and recommendations: Age and depression could affect fatigue. In order to prevent or control the both symptoms, healthcare teams should assess fatigue and depression in every post-COVID-19 patient, especially elderly patients, in order to be aware and solve an emerging problem during treatment provision. Moreover, patients should be given advice and guidance in preventing depression to reduce fatigue during recovery.
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