Associations between Depression, Anxiety, Insomnia, and Fatigue among Patients Post Coronavirus 2019 Infection

Abstract

This descriptive study aimed to investigate fatigue and study associations among depression, anxiety, insomnia, and fatigue in post coronavirus 2019 infection patients. One hundred and one Thai people, aged 18 year and over, infected with Coronavirus 2019 living at the Klong Toei Community Bangkok, were selected by a purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using four questionnaires: the demographic data questionnaire, the Depress Anxiety Stress Scales, the Insomnia Severity Index, and the Fatigue Severity Scale. Frequency, percentage, range, means, standard deviation and Pearson’s product moment correlation were used in data analysis. The result revealed that 79.2% of the participants were female with the average age of 55.08 years (SD=15.048), and 89.1% of participants were infected with COVID-19 1 time. Fatigue Severity Scale score for the sample of post coronavirus 2019 infection patients mean score was 3.40 (Means=3.40, SD=2.03). 40.6% of the participants reported fatigue; and 58.4% of participants reported insomnia (Means=9.79, SD=7.935). Majority of the participants had depression and anxiety scores at normal levels. Depression, anxiety, and insomnia were significantly correlated with fatigue in post coronavirus 2019 infection patients (r=0.526, r=0.558, p<0.001 and r=0.443, p<0.001, respectively)

The study result suggest that nurses should monitor fatigue among patients after coronavirus 2019 infection.  Moreover, depression, anxiety and insomnia should be assessed regularly.  Nursing interventions such as education, group support, and sleep enhancement program should be employed for the patients.