Relationship between anxiety levels and dyspnea among post-COVID-19 patients

Background: Post-corona-virus disease 2019 (Post-COVID-19)
syndrome also known as severe acute respiratory syndrome
coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a condition where symptoms arise
in COVID-19 patients who have been declared cured according to
negative swab results. The level of anxiety can cause it because
when anxiety occurs, there is a “fight or flight” response to protect
oneself. The sympathetic nervous system works and releases the
adrenaline hormone, causing dyspnea. Research objective knowing
the relationship between anxiety levels and dyspnea in post-
COVID-19 patients in Malang Raya.
Methods: This study used a cross-sectional design. The population
of this study consisted of post-COVID-19 patients who live in
Malang Raya, with a sample of 56 respondents. This study collected
data of the Hamilton rating scale for anxiety (HRS-A) questionnaire
to measure the level of anxiety and the Borg Scale to measure the
level of dyspnea.
Results: Based on Spearman’s statistical test, the level of anxiety
and dyspnea obtained a value of p= 0.00, r= 0.503 with quite
strong results, so there is a relationship between the level of anxiety
and dyspnea.
Conclusion: There was a strong relationship between the level of
anxiety and dyspnea in post-COVID-19 patients.