Impact of the COVID⁃19 outbreak on depression and anxiety among perinatal women in Wuhan

Objective: To evaluate the effect and analysis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) on depression and anxiety of perinatal women in Wuhan. Methods: A total of 176 perinatal women were selected, who were delivered in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from January 24 to March 29, 2020. The general information of the patients was evaluated. The anxiety self‑assessment scale (SAS) and depression self‑assessment (SDS) were used before delivery. The Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) was used to assess depression from 10 days to 14 days after delivery. The main factors affecting maternal depression and anxiety were investigated and analyzed. Results: During the outbreak of COVID‑19, the incidence of anxiety (SAS score ≥50) was 47.73% (84 cases), and the incidence of depression (SDS score ≥0.5) was 54.55% (96 cases) before delivery. The incidence of depression (EPDS score≥0.5) was 44.89% (79 cases) after delivery. The prenatal SAS score was related to depression after delivery ( r =0.641, P <0.001), and the prenatal SDS score was also related to depression after delivery ( r =0.740, P <0.001). Logistic analysis indicated that worrying about the risk of COVID‑19 infection ( OR =3.816, 95% CI :1.688⁃8.627, P =0.001), poor sleep quality ( OR =2.448, 95% CI : 1.053~5.694, P =0.038) and dyspnea in mask ( OR =2.464, 95% CI : 1.009⁃6.014, P =0.048) were the main risk factors for postpartum depression in pregnant women during outbreak of COVID‑19. Conclusion: The outbreak of COVID‑19 increased the incidence of maternal depression and anxiety during perinatal period, which was significantly related to the combination of multiple risk factors caused by the outbreak of COVID‑19. These provide an effective prevention strategy for preventing the postpartum depression during the outbreak of COVID‑19. © 2021, Editorial Board of Medical Journal of Wuhan University. All right reserved.