Investigation of the Psychological Status of COVID-19 Patients and its Influence on Defecation in Jinshan Fangcang Shelter Hospital in Shanghai, China

Abstract

Abstract Objective: To investigate the psychological state of asymptomatic COVID-19-infected patients in Fangcang Shelter Hospital and the influence of the psychological state on defecation. Methods:The psychological status, defecation disorder and anorectal diseases of asymptomatic COVID-19-infected patients admitted to a shelter hospital in the Jinshan District of Shanghai were investigated using an online questionnaire from May 1 to May 7, 2022. Results: A total of 568 valid questionnaires were received, and the respondents who had defecation disorders before entering the Fangcang Shelter Hospital were excluded. A total of 452 questionnaires were included for data analysis; 111 subjects had anxiety, and the detection rate of anxiety was 24.6% (111/452). The detection rate of difficult defecation was 39.6% (179/452). The incidence of difficult defecation was 57.7% (64/111) among the subjects with anxiety, and 33.7% (115/341) among the subjects without anxiety. The incidence of difficult defecation in the subjects with anxiety was significantly higher than that in subjects without anxiety (P<0.001). The proportion of patients with dry stool (Bristol type 1-2), anal mass prolapse after defecation and perianal pain was higher in the group with difficulty in defecation than in the group without difficulty in defecation (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Asymptomatic COVID-19 patients had anxiety at the Fangcang Shelter Hospital. Anxiety may lead to difficulty in defecation and induce anorectal diseases.