Background: Infectious illness outbreaks, such as COVID-19, have a devastating impact on physical health and social and psychological well-being. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the quality of life (QOL) after the COVID-19 outbreak in a sample of the Lebanese population and compare sociodemographic factors associated with QOL among COVID-19 patients and healthy controls. Methods: : A cross-sectional study conducted between January and March 2021 during the lockdown imposed by the Lebanese Government enrolled 2349 Lebanese adults. The major dependent variable was the 12-item Short Form Survey (SF-12), often used as a QOL measure for assessing the impact of health on an individual's everyday life. Results: : In participants with non-positive PCR, linear regression showed that higher income (Beta=2.224) is associated with a higher QOL score. Whereas higher household crowding index (Beta=-0.537), older age (Beta=-0.109), being married (Beta=-1.308), having hypertension (Beta=-2.479), and other chronic diseases (Beta=-3.704) were associated with a lower QOL score.In participants with positive PCR, linear regression showed that the female gender (Beta=2.416) and a higher income (Beta=4.856) were associated with a higher QOL score. Whereas shortness of breath (beta=-2.607), sore throat (Beta=-5.654), sneezing (Beta=-3.761), and having a chronic disease other than hypertension (Beta=-3.181) were associated with a lower QOL score. Conclusion: Overall, factors such as age, male gender, married status, crowded household, low monthly income, high BMI, the presence of chronic disease, and severe COVID-19 symptoms were related to lower QOL after the covid-19 pandemic.
The Effects of COVID-19 On The Quality of Life Among a Sample of The General Lebanese Population