Appetite loss, death anxiety and medical coping modes in COVID‐19 patients: a cross‐sectional study

Zeng, Qiuxuan; Cao, Huangliang; Ma, Qing; Chen, Jieya; Shi, Haixia; Li, Jiaying

AIM: This study aims to explore the current level and associated factors of appetite and death anxiety amongst COVID‐19 patients and also to identify correlation between the two variables. DESIGN: A cross‐sectional study. METHODS: Demographic and characteristic questionnaires, templer death anxiety scale, council on nutrition of appetite questionnaire and medical coping modes questionnaire were utilized. RESULTS: The average scores of appetite and death anxiety were 19.46 (4.09) and 6.58, (3.21) respectively. 76 patients (100%) suffered from appetite loss, whilst 27 (35.50%) patients suffered from severe death anxiety. Marital status, COVID‐19 disease condition ranks, educational level and death anxiety were explained 55.20% of the total variance in the appetite regression model (F = 31.83, p < .001), whilst the gender, avoidance coping strategy and appetite level were explained 49.80% of the total variance in death anxiety model (F = 17.80, p < .001). A moderate negative correlation between appetite and death anxiety was also confirmed (r=−.55, p < .001).