The Association of Food Quality Score and Neuro-Psychological Function among Recovered COVID-۱۹ Patients: A Cross Sectional Study

Background Overall quality of diet of recovered COVID-۱۹ patients may have effects on neuro-psychological health and their quality of life. As a result we are going to examine the association between food quality score and neuro-psychological function among recovered COVID-۱۹ patients.Method The current cross-sectional study was carried out during ۲۰۲۱ which included ۱۲۰ covid-۱۹ patients aged >۳۰ years. Demographics and clinical characteristic, food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), food quality score (FQS), depression anxiety stress scales (DASS), insomnia severity index (ISI), short form health survey (SF-۳۶) for evaluating general quality of life and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire were collected.Result There were no significant association between demographic and clinical characteristics as well as energy-adjusted dietary intakes including macronutrients and micronutrients and also components of FQS between two groups. There were no significant association between none of DASS items, ISI and PSQI among FQS groups (P>۰.۰۵). Moreover, evaluating the association between quality of life factors and FQS groups showed that food quality score was significantly associated with a lower body pain (P=۰.۰۱۷). Multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted. To notice the exact relationship, we had adjusted items for age, gender and energy intake. There is significant relationship between daily fruits intake in recovered COVID-۱۹ patients and depression which means that a higher intake leads to lower depression score (P=۰.۰۴۰; β= -۰.۲۵۳). Daily intake of whole grains, nuts and legumes showed a reverse significant association with depression (P=۰.۰۲۲, β=-۰.۲۷۶; P=۰.۰۴۵, β=-۰.۲۱۶; respectively), anxiety (P=۰.۰۰۱, β=-۳۷۷; P=۰.۰۴۲, β=-۲۳۲; respectively) and stress (P=۰.۰۱۳, β=-۳۰۰; P=۰.۰۳۳, β=-۲۲۶; respectively). Moreover, the analyses showed that higher intake of potato led to poor sleep quality (P=.۰.۳۷; β= -۰.۲۷۲). It is notable to mention that a positive significant association had been seen between refined grains’ daily intake and depression, anxiety and stress (P=۰.۰۲۱, β=۰.۲۸۱; P=۰.۰۲۴, β=۰.۲۴۹; P=۰.۰۱۳, β=۰.۳۰۲; respectively) as well as insomnia (P=۰.۰۰۸, β=۰.۲۹۳) in recovered COVID-۱۹ patients.Conclusion Our data suggested that overall food quality intake plays a noticeable role on body pain at post infection period. Also adequate daily intake of fruits, legumes, nuts, whole grains may prevent neuro-psychological impairment and sleep disorders manifestations which are common among recovered patients.