Impact on mental health, disease management, and socioeconomic modifications in hematological patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy

Abstract

Background: Hematological patients are a highly vulnerable population with an increased risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms due to their immunocompromised status. COVID-19 has proven to cause serious mental health issues, such as stress, anxiety, and depression in the general population. However, data on the psycho-social impact of COVID-19 on hematological patients are lacking. Objectives: This study aims to examine the psychological well-being of hematological patients in Italy during the initial period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, it seeks to explore the association between modifications in the management of hematological diseases and employment status of these patients during the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting mental health outcomes. Design and Methods: A survey using the DASS-21 questionnaire was administered to 1105 hematological patients. Data analysis was conducted using the R software, and logistic regression analysis was performed to predict the association between hematological patient/general population and employment status with DASS scores. Results: The hematological patient population reported significantly higher levels of depression (OR 0.947, 95% CI 0.966–0.982, p < 0.001), anxiety (OR 0.948, 95% CI 0.939–0.958, p < 0.001), and stress (OR 0.984, 95% CI 0.977–0.992, p < 0.001) compared with the general population. A significant relationship has been found in stress between employed and unemployed patients (OR 1.015, 95% CI 1.000–1.030, p = 0.044), as well as in the control group (OR 1.024, 95% CI 1.010–1.039, p = 0.001). In addition, employment status is significantly related to depression, anxiety, and stress in both the hematological patient group and the general population. Conclusion: During the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, hematological patients had elevated levels of depression, anxiety, and stress compared with the general population. The delay in their treatment and employment status played a role in their mental health outcomes. These findings emphasize the importance of further research to gain deeper insight into the long-term psychological effects and explore effective strategies for managing mental health in similar crises.