Kashan University of Medical Sciences , z.sooki@yahoo.com
Abstract: (6 Views)
Background and Aim: Given the heightened vulnerability of patients with diabetes to COVID-19 and the role of anxiety in blood glucose control, this study was conducted to examine the level of COVID-19 anxiety and its associated factors in these patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 on 300 patients with diabetes covered by the comprehensive health centers of Kashan city. Sampling was performed using a multi-stage method. Data were collected using demographic and potential related factors questionnaires, the Alipour Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, and the Walker Lifestyle Questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 16, using independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, and multiple linear regression analysis. Results: The mean score of COVID-19 anxiety was 13.390 ± 11.229 (on a 0-54 scale). Anxiety showed a significant association with demographic variables (gender, occupation, housing status, age, number of children), clinical factors (comorbidities, history of COVID-19 infection and related hospitalization, psychiatric disorder, blood glucose monitoring), and psychosocial factors (life satisfaction, religious adherence) (p<0.05). In the final regression model, seven variables—history of COVID-19 infection, comorbidities, psychiatric disorder, life satisfaction, regular blood glucose monitoring, gender, and housing status—remained as significant predictors, collectively explaining 27.5% of the variance in anxiety. A history of COVID-19 infection accounted for the largest share of the explained variance (R² = 0.108). Conclusion: The mean COVID-19 anxiety score among patients with diabetes was low and was influenced by a combination of individual, psychological, and social factors. It is essential for health system managers to consider these factors in their planning, given the vulnerability and compromised immune systems of patients with diabetes.