Chronic disease patients during the armed conflict in Sudan: a cross-sectional study on mental health and quality of life
Abstract Background Chronic diseases represent a major global health burden, with their impact becoming even more pronounced in conflict settings. In such environments, the mental health and quality of life of chronic disease patients often deteriorate due to the disruptions caused by war. This stud...
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| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Conflict and Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-025-00695-9 |
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| author | Sohaib Mohammed Mokhtar Ahmed Moram Elfadel Abdelrhaman Gasmalha Ahmed Balla M. Ahmed Khalid Abusofyan Eljezoli Mohammed Salma Alrawa Hebatallah Fadhl Mohanned Abdalsalam Mohammed Salih Israa Alamin Mohammed Hussein Asma Mohammed Ahmed Mohammed Salih Haifa Ibnomer Abdelrahman Elsharif Hiba Atif Ahmad Elhussein Sajda Abdelaziz Yahya Abaker Tagwa Adil Sedahmed Khalefa Ekhlass Hassan Hdab Hammed Muhannad Bushra Masaad Ahmed |
| author_facet | Sohaib Mohammed Mokhtar Ahmed Moram Elfadel Abdelrhaman Gasmalha Ahmed Balla M. Ahmed Khalid Abusofyan Eljezoli Mohammed Salma Alrawa Hebatallah Fadhl Mohanned Abdalsalam Mohammed Salih Israa Alamin Mohammed Hussein Asma Mohammed Ahmed Mohammed Salih Haifa Ibnomer Abdelrahman Elsharif Hiba Atif Ahmad Elhussein Sajda Abdelaziz Yahya Abaker Tagwa Adil Sedahmed Khalefa Ekhlass Hassan Hdab Hammed Muhannad Bushra Masaad Ahmed |
| author_sort | Sohaib Mohammed Mokhtar Ahmed |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Chronic diseases represent a major global health burden, with their impact becoming even more pronounced in conflict settings. In such environments, the mental health and quality of life of chronic disease patients often deteriorate due to the disruptions caused by war. This study aimed to assess mental health issues among chronic disease patients and evaluate their quality of life during the ongoing armed conflict in Sudan. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among chronic disease patients in the safest states of Sudan during the current war. Mental health was assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 for anxiety, and quality of life was evaluated using the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level scale. Chi-square tests and Spearman’s rank examined associations between socio-demographic factors and mental health outcomes. Multiple linear regression identified predictors influencing mental health issues, with statistical significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Results Among 1116 chronic disease patients, the median depression score was 7 (IQR = 8), with 50.3% reporting mild to moderate depression, while the median anxiety score was 6 (IQR = 8), with 47.1% experiencing mild to moderate anxiety. Depression showed significantly strong positive correlation with anxiety (ρ = 0.810, p < 0.00). In terms of health-related quality of life, the pain/discomfort domain showed 40.7% of patients reporting moderate to extreme problems, followed by the anxiety/depression domain at 43.4%, making these the most affected areas. Conclusion This study revealed high levels of depression and anxiety among Sudanese chronic disease patients during the war, alongside a notably poor quality of life. The findings underscore the urgent need for intervention to implement targeted mental health support programs, aiming to improve the quality of life for this vulnerable population. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-712df8d9dbbb4eedb93c988b0db6d77d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1752-1505 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Conflict and Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-712df8d9dbbb4eedb93c988b0db6d77d2025-08-20T03:45:57ZengBMCConflict and Health1752-15052025-07-011911910.1186/s13031-025-00695-9Chronic disease patients during the armed conflict in Sudan: a cross-sectional study on mental health and quality of lifeSohaib Mohammed Mokhtar Ahmed0Moram Elfadel Abdelrhaman Gasmalha1Ahmed Balla M. Ahmed2Khalid Abusofyan Eljezoli Mohammed3Salma Alrawa4Hebatallah Fadhl5Mohanned Abdalsalam Mohammed Salih6Israa Alamin Mohammed Hussein7Asma Mohammed Ahmed Mohammed Salih8Haifa Ibnomer Abdelrahman Elsharif9Hiba Atif Ahmad Elhussein10Sajda Abdelaziz Yahya Abaker11Tagwa Adil Sedahmed Khalefa12Ekhlass Hassan Hdab Hammed13Muhannad Bushra Masaad Ahmed14Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GadarifFaulty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Omdurman Islamic UniversityFaculty of Medicine, University of KhartoumFaculty of Dentistry, University of GeziraFaculty of Medicine, University of KhartoumFaculty of Medicine, Aden UniversityFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GadarifFaculty of Pharmacy, University of GadarifFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Red Sea UniversityGezira College of Medical Sciences and TechnologyCollege of Medicine, Sudan University of Science and TechnologyFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GadarifFaculty of Medicine, University of GeziraFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of KassalaFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of GadarifAbstract Background Chronic diseases represent a major global health burden, with their impact becoming even more pronounced in conflict settings. In such environments, the mental health and quality of life of chronic disease patients often deteriorate due to the disruptions caused by war. This study aimed to assess mental health issues among chronic disease patients and evaluate their quality of life during the ongoing armed conflict in Sudan. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among chronic disease patients in the safest states of Sudan during the current war. Mental health was assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 for depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 for anxiety, and quality of life was evaluated using the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level scale. Chi-square tests and Spearman’s rank examined associations between socio-demographic factors and mental health outcomes. Multiple linear regression identified predictors influencing mental health issues, with statistical significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Results Among 1116 chronic disease patients, the median depression score was 7 (IQR = 8), with 50.3% reporting mild to moderate depression, while the median anxiety score was 6 (IQR = 8), with 47.1% experiencing mild to moderate anxiety. Depression showed significantly strong positive correlation with anxiety (ρ = 0.810, p < 0.00). In terms of health-related quality of life, the pain/discomfort domain showed 40.7% of patients reporting moderate to extreme problems, followed by the anxiety/depression domain at 43.4%, making these the most affected areas. Conclusion This study revealed high levels of depression and anxiety among Sudanese chronic disease patients during the war, alongside a notably poor quality of life. The findings underscore the urgent need for intervention to implement targeted mental health support programs, aiming to improve the quality of life for this vulnerable population.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-025-00695-9Chronic diseasesDepressionAnxietyHealth-related quality of lifeArmed conflictSudan |
| spellingShingle | Sohaib Mohammed Mokhtar Ahmed Moram Elfadel Abdelrhaman Gasmalha Ahmed Balla M. Ahmed Khalid Abusofyan Eljezoli Mohammed Salma Alrawa Hebatallah Fadhl Mohanned Abdalsalam Mohammed Salih Israa Alamin Mohammed Hussein Asma Mohammed Ahmed Mohammed Salih Haifa Ibnomer Abdelrahman Elsharif Hiba Atif Ahmad Elhussein Sajda Abdelaziz Yahya Abaker Tagwa Adil Sedahmed Khalefa Ekhlass Hassan Hdab Hammed Muhannad Bushra Masaad Ahmed Chronic disease patients during the armed conflict in Sudan: a cross-sectional study on mental health and quality of life Conflict and Health Chronic diseases Depression Anxiety Health-related quality of life Armed conflict Sudan |
| title | Chronic disease patients during the armed conflict in Sudan: a cross-sectional study on mental health and quality of life |
| title_full | Chronic disease patients during the armed conflict in Sudan: a cross-sectional study on mental health and quality of life |
| title_fullStr | Chronic disease patients during the armed conflict in Sudan: a cross-sectional study on mental health and quality of life |
| title_full_unstemmed | Chronic disease patients during the armed conflict in Sudan: a cross-sectional study on mental health and quality of life |
| title_short | Chronic disease patients during the armed conflict in Sudan: a cross-sectional study on mental health and quality of life |
| title_sort | chronic disease patients during the armed conflict in sudan a cross sectional study on mental health and quality of life |
| topic | Chronic diseases Depression Anxiety Health-related quality of life Armed conflict Sudan |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-025-00695-9 |
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