This study evaluated how the COVID-19 pandemic affected daily functioning and mental well-being among patients with chronic conditions, focusing on those receiving hemodialysis (HD) and those with diabetes (DM). Medical information was gathered through a structured questionnaire, while anxiety levels were evaluated using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) instrument.
Both groups showed comparable rates of prior COVID-19 infection and shared similar perspectives on the pandemic’s disruptions. The primary constraints highlighted by participants were the obligation to wear masks and the reduction in social interactions. Mental health issues were reported significantly more often by patients in the DM group. Around 30% of all participants experienced sleep disturbances. About 20% of individuals in each group reported that the pandemic had worsened their sleep quality. In the HD group, average GAD-7 scores remained stable across genders. By contrast, a notable gender difference emerged in the DM group, where women recorded markedly higher scores than men. However, the proportions of patients with GAD-7 scores exceeding 5, 10, and 15 were statistically similar between the two groups. Anxiety disorders occurred at comparable rates across both groups of chronically ill patients. Within the DM group, women exhibited more intense anxiety symptoms. Overall, mental health problems were substantially more common among DM patients. HD patients appeared to handle the psychological burden of pandemic-related stress and restrictions more successfully.
