Efeitos do Sars-Cov-2 sobre a percepção da qualidade de vida, cognição, estado emocional e estresse em pessoas idosas na condição pós-Covid-19

Abstract

Elderly people constitute one of the groups considered vulnerable to the severity of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), due to their greater susceptibility to developing the most severe form of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) and because they have a high association with diseases chronicles. Therefore, the effects of the pandemic have directly and indirectly affected people's mental health in the most diverse aspects, which implies a worrying public health condition. Therefore, the present work aimed to investigate the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on the perception of quality of life, cognition, emotional state and stress in elderly people in the Post-COVID-19 condition. This was methodological development research of an exploratory, descriptive and analytical nature, with a qualitative and quantitative approach. Held on the premises of the Universidade Aberta à Maturidade-UAMA/UEPB, in which elderly people enrolled and participating in the UAMA social group were part of the sample. The following instruments were used: International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Checklist, adapted Post-COVID-19 Protocol (NEURO), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), WHOQOL – BREF and the Anxiety and Depression Scale and Stress (EADS-21). After collection, data were expressed as mean and standard deviation of the mean and categorical variables as frequency and percentage. There was a prevalence of elderly females (92%), aged between 67 and 73 years (44%), with average education, without a partner and retired (60%). The majority of research participants had Systemic Arterial Hypertension and Diabetes and were taking medication. 64% of individuals experienced some cognitive loss after SARS-CoV-2 infection and the PCR method was the most used for diagnosing COVID-19 and the majority of individuals underwent treatment at home. In the perception of Quality of Life, they presented higher scores in the Social Relationship and Environment domains and 56% said they had a good QoL. 48% did not show any degree of change in stress, in relation to anxiety, an increase in the extremely severe index was observed with 40% of individuals and, for depression, 20% of elderly people had a severe degree. These results corroborate the current literature on the Post-COVID-19 Condition and that elderly people participating in UAMA showed resilience during the pandemic, suggesting that, despite the challenges, many were able to adapt to changes and find ways to deal with the difficulties imposed by the pandemic.