In December 2019, a novel and unique virus from the Coronavirus family, caused a viral disease outbreak in Wuhan, China. This disease, called COVID-19, has different symptoms but often affects the respiratory system (1). In Iran, as of March 2024, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases has surpassed 7.6 million, with over 146,000 reported deaths attributable to the virus. A substantial portion of the population has undergone vaccination against the disease and adheres to preventive measures such as wearing masks and gloves, particularly during periods of heightened transmission (2).

Some patients may experience persistent or long-term complications arising from COVID-19. Among these, systemic, neuropsychiatric, cardiorespiratory, and gastrointestinal symptoms are frequently reported (3). Besides feeling tired for months after getting infected, long-term COVID-19 can cause various problems and consequences for patients (4).

There has been evidence that COVID-19 infection can have severe and lasting consequences for some patients. Fibrosis of the lungs, venous thromboembolism, arterial and cardiac thrombosis, inflammation of the cardiovascular system, stroke, dermatological complications, and depression are examples of these conditions (4). These long-term complications can vary depending on the patient’s characteristics and how long they have the symptoms (5). In some studies, the factors influencing long-term and multiorgan systemic COVID-19 have been examined. Many factors, including endothelial damage, disordered immune response, and hypercoagulability, often lead to thrombosis due to these factors (6). It is also possible that the immune system may attack its own cells in COVID-19 patients, similar to what happens in some autoimmune diseases (7).

The disease’s newness and the lasting symptoms cause more severe complications for patients who undergo this change (4, 8). The quality of life (QOL) of these individuals is negatively affected as a result. Even after they recover, clinically stable COVID-19 patients may still suffer from low QOL (9). To provide better support to those who have COVID-19, healthcare professionals, and government agencies need to know how it affects them (10, 11). QOL is a common measure for examining and judging one’s health and well-being.

It is important to understand that quality of life (QOL) is a multidimensional concept, reflecting aspects of physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being (12). Among these aspects, spiritual health is often overlooked, despite its importance for individual and social life. An individual’s spiritual health affects their health in a number of ways and is therefore crucial to their physical as well as social well-being. Furthermore, it also plays a major role in the enhancement and development of mental and emotional well-being. Most psychologists and specialists have stressed spiritual health in recent years (13, 14).

It is the belief of the World Health Organization that spiritual health is one of the most influential dimensions of human life. It is the fourth fundamental dimension of spirituality that should be promoted (15). Spiritual health is a new dimension of health in today’s world, besides physical and mental health. Increasing quality of life and giving meaning to all aspects of health are its benefits (16). In addition to helping people stay healthy, spiritual health prevents symptoms like depression, loneliness, and meaninglessness. Spiritual health is also related to reducing physical and mental diseases, especially in times of crisis, such as acute diseases (17).

The spiritual health of COVID-19 patients experiencing post-coronavirus complications may be associated with their overall quality of life. However, this aspect has received limited attention in existing literature, leaving many aspects of this relationship unexplored and warranting further investigation. This study sought to determine correlation between spiritual health and quality of life among COVID-19 patients experiencing long-term complications in the post-coronavirus period.

In this study, most participants were 41–60 years old. The majority of participants were male and had education levels below a diploma. Most of the participants were married and self-employed (Table 1).

The mean scores of spiritual health and quality of life for participants without COVID-19 complications were 70.87 ± 22.44 and 61.30 ± 18.33, respectively. The mean scores of spiritual health and quality of life for participants with COVID-19 complications were 41.20 ± 12.49 and 33.66 ± 1.46, respectively. The highest mean spiritual health scores and quality of life dimensions for participants without COVID-19 complications were existential health (35.79 ± 12.49) and general health (65.05 ± 21.44), respectively. The highest mean scores of spiritual health and quality of life dimensions for participants with COVID-19 complications were existential health (21.86 ± 6.38) and role-emotional (33.06 ± 12.03), respectively (Table 2). The study also showed that the person correlation coefficient between spiritual health and quality of life was 0.17, and it was statistically significant (p < 0.001) (Table 3).

Linear regression showed that the mean score of spiritual health for people who had COVID-19 complications was 29.63 points lower than for people who did not have COVID-19 complications (p < 0.001). Similarly, the mean score of quality of life for people who experienced COVID-19 complications was 27.63 points lower than for people who did not experience COVID-19 complications (p < 0.001) (Table 4).

On the other hand, chi-square tests and independent t-tests showed statistical significance for age, education level, and occupation. After adjusting for these variables in the linear regression test, the study results showed that the mean spiritual health score for people with COVID-19 complications was 33.10 points lower than for people who did not have COVID-19 complications. Similarly, the mean score of quality of life for people who experienced COVID-19 complications was 29.60 points lower than for people who did not experience COVID-19 complications (Table 4).

This study found that participants without COVID-19 complications had higher spiritual health (moderate score) than those with COVID-19 complications (poor score), and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Nodoushan et al. (11) reported that spiritual health was directly related to stress reduction in pregnant women with COVID-19, which aligns with this study. Similarly (11), Papazoglou et al. (23) demonstrated that spiritual health and religious practices could help improve and reduce the complications of this disease (23), which also agrees with this study.

According to the current study, spiritual health was directly related to quality of life. As Margeti et al. found, COVID-19 patients with higher spirituality had a higher quality of life (24). Also, Cherblanc (9) found that spiritual health and quality of life are directly related to each other in a survey of 2,754 COVID-19 patients (9).

In addition, the study found that participants without COVID-19 complications had a higher quality of life (moderate score) than those with COVID-19 complications (poor score). According to Ferreira et al. COVID-19 complications, such as stress, anxiety, and physical discomfort, lower the quality of life of patients (25). Similarly, as a result of a review of 34 studies, Shanbehzadeh et al. (17) examined the common complications of COVID-19, such as fatigue, pain, reduced physical capacity, and mental health issues. It has also been shown that the quality of life in COVID-19 patients who experience complications decreases up to 3 months after the procedure (17), which is also in agreement with this study’s findings.

The present study indicated that participants’ age, education, and occupation influenced their spiritual health and quality of life. According to Jadidi et al. ‘s study on the spiritual health of older adults, their spiritual health is influenced by age and social class, including occupation and income (15). In addition, Cherblanc et al. found that income level, age, and social class were associated with spiritual quality of life in COVID-19 patients (9). Additionally, Varricchio et al. in “Evaluation of the Quality of Life at the Bedside,” claimed that quality of life was influenced by age, education, social status, diseases, and spirituality (26).

Physical and mental crises threaten or harm individuals or communities’ health, well-being, or safety. The COVID-19 pandemic is an example. This crisis can negatively impact the quality of life (QoL) of affected people, such as reducing their physical, psychological, social, and environmental well-being (17).

QoL is a subjective and multidimensional concept that reflects how people perceive and evaluate their lives in various domains. These domains include health, happiness, relationships, work, leisure, and spirituality. Objective and subjective factors, such as personal characteristics, life circumstances, expectations, values, and beliefs, influence QoL. QoL is important for human development, health promotion, and social policy (27).

Spirituality is a broad and complex concept that refers to the search for meaning, purpose, and transcendence in life. Spirituality can be expressed in various forms, such as beliefs, practices, experiences, values, and relationships. Multiple factors, such as culture, religion, personality, and life events, can influence spirituality (28). Spirituality is a significant aspect of QoL, as it can provide hope, strength, peace, and resilience in the face of physical and mental crises (14).

Recent studies have explored the relationship between spirituality and QoL among different populations, such as healthy adults, patients with chronic diseases, palliative care patients, and healthcare workers. These studies suggest spirituality is positively associated with QoL, especially in the psychological, social, and environmental domains. Spirituality can also enhance individuals’ and communities’ coping and adaptation skills during physical and mental crises by providing a sense of coherence, connectedness, and compassion (14, 15).

However, the association between spirituality and QoL in patients who have complications after COVID-19 infection is not straightforward, as it is influenced by various factors, such as the definition and measurement of spirituality and QoL, the type and severity of the crisis, the personal and contextual resources available, and the individual and cultural differences in spirituality and QoL (29). Therefore, more research is needed to understand the complex and dynamic interplay between spirituality and QoL in different settings and situations.

In conclusion, physical and mental crises in post-COVID-19 patients with complications are one of the factors affecting the QoL of individuals and communities, which spirituality may help to improve or maintain (9). Spirituality is a valuable resource for enhancing the well-being and resilience of people facing physical and mental challenges, as well as for promoting a holistic and humanistic approach to health care and social policy (30).

The study’s considerable participant pool represents a notable strength, enhancing its potential for generalizability. However, the reliance on self-report measures introduces the possibility of response bias, warranting cautious interpretation of the findings. Moreover, the distinctive cultural attributes of the participants necessitate careful consideration when extrapolating and applying the study’s results. In addition, the cultural characteristics of spiritual health measures may affect the generalizability of the findings.

This study highlights the potential correlation between COVID-19 complications and the deterioration of patients’ spiritual health and quality of life, underscoring their vulnerability and distress. The significant association observed between spiritual health and quality of life underscores the importance of integrating spiritual dimensions into healthcare provision for COVID-19 patients with long-term complications. Therefore, authorities are recommended to enhance the comprehensiveness and appropriateness of care services while developing programs and strategies to bolster patients’ spiritual health. Given the pervasive influence of spiritual beliefs in Iranian society, further research is recommended to devise and implement spiritually-centered interventions aimed at enhancing the quality of life in COVID-19 patients with long-term complications. Additionally, future studies should explore the relationship between spiritual health and the extent of progress and improvements in patients’ quality of life. Furthermore, employing structural equation modeling and causal inference methodologies in future research endeavors could facilitate the development of theoretical models in this domain.

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.

The studies involving humans were approved by Ethics Committee of Khomein University of Medical Sciences. The studies were conducted in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements. Written informed consent for participation in this study was provided by the participants.

MS: Validation, Methodology, Writing – review & editing. VY: Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft. AJ: Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft, Methodology, Conceptualization. SMTD: Writing – original draft, Supervision, Methodology. KG: Writing – review & editing, Data curation, Conceptualization.