Fear of progression in patients with mild or common type COVID-19

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the current condition and degree of fear of disease progression and associated factors in patients with mild or common type COVID-19.

Background: At the end of 2019, COVID-19 spread from Wuhan in Hubei Province throughout China. Confirmed cases and deaths have since been reported in many countries around the world. However, fear of progression in these patients has been poorly explored.

Methods: During February 2020, we recruited 114 patients with mild or common type COVID-19 admitted to a Fangcang shelter hospital. We assessed patients' degree of fear using the simplified Fear of Progression Questionnaire (Chinese version). Multiple regression analysis was applied to explore potential factors.

Results: The fear of disease progression scores of patients with mild or common COVID-19 was at the low-to-moderate level. Current unemployment, disease duration of 28 days or more and not having a spouse diagnosed with COVID-19 were factors potentially associated with fear of progression.

Conclusion: With a high prevalence of fear of disease progression in patients with COVID-19, the risk of psychological effects from the pandemic is significant and fear of progression is one of the manifestations. The need for psychological support services for patients should be included in all pandemic and disaster planning.

Keywords: COVID-19; factors; fear of progression; infection disease; pneumonia.