Quality of life and psychological problems in patients with hematological malignancies during pandemic COVID-19: the results of a single center study

¹ N. I. PIROGOV NATIONAL MEDICAL AND SURGICAL CENTER, MOSCOW

² SAINT-PETERSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL, SAINT-PETERSBURG

³ MULTINATIONAL CENTER FOR QUALITY OF LIFE RESEARCH, SAINT-PETERSBURG

Nowadays there is an evidence that COVID-19 pandemic has a serious negative impact on population’ quality of life (QoL). The impact of the pandemic may be particularly significant for such a vulnerable population as patients with hematological malignancies. The purpose of the study was to evaluate QoL changes and psychological problems patients with hematological malignancies receiving inpatient treatment in hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the whole 83 patients with blood cancer who underwent treatment at the N. I. Pirogov National Medical Center were enrolled into the study. Patients completed the following forms once — the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for QoL assessment, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and a special checklist containing socio-demographic information and questions about pandemic-related problems in everyday life. The mean age of patients was 47.9±15.1 years; 70.9 % were women. In total, 60.3 % of patients noted a deterioration in their QoL during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the NRS, 26.9 % of patients had poor or very poor QoL (0–5 points out of 10). Negative changes were more pronounced for psychoemotional functioning. An increased or borderline level of anxiety was registered in 32.1 % of patients, a borderline or increased level of depression — in 17.3 % of patients. Most patients (67.9 %) noted that the difficulties associated with the COVID-19 pandemic are significant for them, and half of them (50.9 %) are worried about possible restrictions of the availability of medical care. Anxiety and depression, as well as difficulties associated with restrictions due to COVID-19, turned out to be the leading independent factors associated with poor QoL. QoL impairment and psychological problems identified in patients with a hematological malignancies during COVID-19 pandemic may contribute to further research and can be used to develop recommendations for improving the mental health of patients in this group.