ABSTRACT

Objective

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of COVID-19 symptoms on patients’ mental health.

Material and Methods

In this study, 451 COVID-19 patients treated at Adana City Training and Research Hospital were included. The patients’ symptoms such as fever, cough, myalgia, rhinorrhea, sore throat, smell disorder, taste disorder, diarrhea, dyspnea were questioned and their mental health was evaluated with the Beck Depression Scale. The patients were divided into four groups as normal, mild, moderate, and severe depression according to the Beck Depression Scale. Symptom profiles were compared between groups, and which symptoms negatively affected mental health were examined.

Results

Forty-seven patients were classified as normal, but depressive symptoms were observed in 404 patients. Moderate depression symptoms were observed in 214 patients, which made up the largest group with 47.4%. Depression symptoms were generally moderate in women and mild in men. There was a significant relationship between myalgia, fever, cough, and depression symptoms (p< 0.001). Smell disorders were also seen in 220 of 451 patients. The presence of diabetes, coronary artery disease (CAD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and chronic renal failure (CRF) did not differ between the depression groups (p> 0.05). A significant relationship was found between the presence of hypertension (HT) and depression classification (p< 0.05).

Conclusion

COVID-19 negatively affects the mental health of patients. Fever, cough, myalgia, smell disorders, and being a woman increase the symptoms of depression. A significant relationship was found between the presence of hypertension and depression classification.