Original Research Article_A study on the evaluation of Stressful Impact of the COVID-19, Depression and Anxiety among Healthcare Workers and Non-Health Care people who have recovered from COVID-19

Abstract

Background: Due to the COVID-19, there is an increase in psychological complaints. Healthcare and nonhealthcare persons have had differential complaints like anxiety, depression, stress. Such complaints have also seen in the general public but more so in recovered patients from COVID-19. With this background, we conducted this study find out the stressful impact of COVID-19, prevalence of stress, anxiety and depression between healthcare workers and non-healthcare people. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was done in the tertiary-care COVID hospital in Ahmedabad. 50 healthcare workers (HCWs) and 50 non-healthcare people (NHCPs) who had recovered from COVID-19 were included (age 18-65 years) in the study after they consented for the same. They are assessed with a clinical socio-demographic proforma, clinical variables, Impact Of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Anxiety-Self Rating Scale (ASRS). The results were then statistically analysed. Results: Distress by stressful life events and anxiety were not significant (14% and 32%), (14% and 30%) in HCWs and NHCPs respectively. Depression was more prevalent (44% and 38%) in HCWs and NHCPs respectively. Medical illness was more in NHCPs (50%) compared to HCWs (4%) and associated with depression (52.63%) in NHCPs as compared to HCW (4.5%). Clinical variables, O2 requirement was also more in NHCPs (20%) as compared to HCWs (4%) and also significantly associated with anxiety (40% and 12.5%) and depression (36.84% and 4.5%) in NHCPs and HCWs respectively. Conclusions: The prevalence of depression was much higher amongst HCWs and suggests more attention would be required for improving the mental health among HCWs and NHCPs and overall mental health needs attention in patients that are recovering from COVID-19.