Self-reported Mental Health in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19: A 1-Year Follow-Up

Objectives: This study aimed to longitudinally follow self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and fatigue during the first year after hospitalization because of COVID-19. Design: The study was an observational longitudinal study. Methods and participants: Between July 2020, and February 2021, 211 patients aged ≥ 18 years, hospitalized ≥ 5 days at 5 hospitals in Region Västra Götaland, who had COVID-19, and were non-contagious (at study enrolment) were included in the baseline assessment. Of these, 168 (79.6%) patients completed mental health questionnaires at a 3-month follow-up, and 172 (83.1%) at a 12-month follow-up. A total of 120 (56.9%) participants who completed at least 1 questionnaire at both the 3- and 12-month follow-ups were analysed; the majority were male (n = 78, 65.0%). Results: There was an improvement in all patients from 3 to 12 months on the fatigue subscales “reduced activity” (p = 0.02) and “physical fatigue” (p = 0.04). No other significant mental health improvements were found. At 12 months, 34 (28.4%) were classified as having anxiety symptoms, 29 (24.1%) as having depression symptoms, and 40 (33.3%) had symptoms of probable post-traumatic stress disorder. Conclusions: Participants in the present study did not report full mental health recovery 1 year after hospitalization for COVID-19.