Abstract |
Background:
Since the declaration of the Covid-19 pandemic, over 750.000.000 cases have been confirmed worldwide. The long-standing effects of Covid-19 disease in physical and mental health are described by the term “post-Covid syndrome”. Among the psychiatric manifestations more frequently associated with post-Covid syndrome are depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress, being the subject of research for an increasing number of studies. Severe foregoing Covid-19 infection, female sex and the presence of comorbidities are associated with a higher risk for post-Covid psychiatric manifestations. It is crucial to identify the patients at risk for post-Covid psychiatric sequelae, so that further support is provided, and their quality of life is improved in the long term.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of post-Covid symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress, one to six months after the infection, as well as the correlation of Covid-19 disease severity and symptoms and the patients’ demographic characteristics and vaccination status with the appearance of post-Covid mental health disorders.
Methods:
A prospective cohort study recruited patients at one-month, three-month or six- month follow up after SARS-COV-2 infection. Their demographic information, medical history and clinical records during (disease severity, need for hospitalization or oxygen therapy) and after infection (somatic and psychiatric symptoms) were investigated. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and symptoms of post-traumatic stress were measured by the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-Civilian (PCL-C).
Results:
Amongst the 250 patients included, 176 patients were non-hospitalized for previous Covid-19 infection. At least mild mental health symptoms were common (anxiety 29,4%, depression 24,3%, post-traumatic stress 32,3%). Female sex (p<0,01) and comorbidities (p<0,001) were the strongest predictors of these symptoms, whereas severe or critical Covid-19 disease (p=0,001) and hospitalization (p=0,002) were associated with the presence of post-Covid depressive symptoms. Age, body mass index and length of stay were not found to significantly correlate with post-Covid mental health symptoms.
Conclusion:
Mental health symptoms are common up to six months after Covid-19 infection, with women and patients with comorbidities being the most vulnerable. Taking into consideration the increasing number of patients with post-Covid syndrome, this study highlights the need for their multidisciplinary evaluation In order to promote their mental health.
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