Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated circumstances have significantly impacted patients with chronic diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between perceived anxiety and fear related to COVID-19 and the health-related quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Methods and Materials: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted on 387 patients with type 2 diabetes referred to Comprehensive Health Centers in Urmia during 2019-2020. The sampling was carried out using a multi-stage random sampling method. Data collection tools comprised a demographic information questionnaire, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, the Anxiety of COVID-19 Scale, and the Short Form 36 health survey. The data were analyzed using SPSS 19 software with a significance level of 0.05, utilizing descriptive and analytical statistical methods, including Pearson correlation.
Results: The average quality of life was (56.6 ± 11.5), with the Mental Component Summary (59.5 ± 14.6) showing a higher mean compared to the Physical Component Summary (53.6 ± 14.1). Significant associations were found between age, duration of diabetes, education level, history of other diseases, history of taking other medications, and economic status with fear and anxiety scores. There was a significant and negative correlation between anxiety (r = -0.543; p = 0.01) and fear (r = -0.433; p = 0.01) scores with quality of life. Furthermore, a significant and inverse relationship was observed between quality of life components such as physical function, role limitations due to physical problems, role limitations due to emotional issues, energy/fatigue, emotional well-being, social function, and general health with anxiety or fear (p = 0.05).
Conclusion and Discussion: Fear and anxiety related to COVID-19 have detrimental effects on various aspects of diabetic patients’ quality of life. Addressing these patients’ fears and anxieties during infectious disease outbreaks is essential to enhancing their quality of life.