Risk Factors for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in COVID Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe study aimed to investigate the impact of demographic, socio-economic, health, and lifestyle variables on the development of PTSD symptoms in COVID survivors. The study used a cross-sectional design, and data were collected via a standard set of questionnaires from 228 COVID survivors, who required oxygen support and were admitted to Damak COVID hospital from April to October 2021.Descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage were used to summarize the data and inferential statistics such as chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, and Binary logistic regression were used to analyze the data and to infer the overall result from the taken sample. The study found that only three variables, i.e., gender, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), were significant factors that posed a higher threat of PTSD in COVID survivors. Additionally, the study uses model adequacy tests such as Pseudo R2 test, Reliability test and Hosmer and Lemeshow test to validate the model fitted.The study found that only three variables had significant impact PTSD symptoms in COVID survivors. Male patients were more likely to have PTSD symptoms than female patients. The presence of diabetes before or after the infection increased the risk of PTSD. The patients with high blood pressure before COVID and those who developed chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) after COVID were more likely to experience PTSD symptoms. The study provides valuable information on the risk factors for developing PTSD symptoms in COVID survivors. This study can contribute to the understanding and growing body of research on the psychological impact of COVID and help healthcare professionals identify patients who are at risk of developing PTSD and provide them with appropriate interventions to prevent or treat PTSD.