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Quality of sleep among healthcare workers treating patients with coronavirus disease-19
- A. Omrane, I. Touil, E. Sghaier, O. Jaoued, J. Chelly, F. EL Arbi, M. Fkih Hassen, S. Mergheli, J. Knani, T. Khalfallah
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S777
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Introduction
Since the declaration of the first Covid-19 case on December 08th ,2019, and to curb the spread of this pandemic, each country and notably Tunisia, has implemented a preventive strategy dominated by general lockdowns in accordance with social distancing and basic hygiene measures. These measures were not applicable in the health care sector as health care workers are at the forefront in the fight against COVID-19. This condition affects not only their physical health caused by elevated workload, but also their mental health causing anxiety, fear, and depression. Previous studies have reported that health care professionals feel stigmatized, experience high levels of anxiety and symptoms of depression, and have sleep problems. Impaired Quality of Sleep (QoS) can affect their efficiency in providing medical services and adequate psychological support for patients suffering from COVID-19.
ObjectivesTo evaluate the QoS among health care professionals treating patients with COVID-19 and quantifying the symptoms of depression and levels of anxiety.
MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in 75 health care professionals matched by age and sex working in public hospital Taher Sfar Mahdia. The study was based in a self administred, French language questionnaire containing three validated questionnaires: 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) Scale, 9-items Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and additional survey constructed for the purpose of the study.
ResultsHealthcare professional treating COVID-19 patients (Group I) group was predominately females mean aged of 32.67±7.04. The health professionals treating COVID-19 patients had poorer Quality of Sleep; Pittsburgh score 10.6 ± 742 vs 7.89 ± 6.14 in the group not treating COVID-19 patients ( p=0.001). Levels of anxiety and depression were significantly higher in the group I (respectively p=0.005 and 0.03). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that higher scores on GAD (beta = .809, p < .01) and the lower one was the number of persons in charge (beta = –0.632; p < .01) were independent predictors of a poorer quality of sleep
ConclusionsThis study has revealed the heavy mental health burden health care professionals treating infected patients in Tunisia during the COVID-19 pandemic are exposed to. Providing early psychological support and a psychologically safe environment for these healthcare workers may alleviate their stress and, consequently, ameliorate their QoS. More attention should be devoted to their quality of sleep and work schedules. In many countries, online training, telehealth supports, behavioral group therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness-based therapy have been deployed for frontier Healthcare workers and have proven effective in such circumstances.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Arthralgia is the main associated symptom to anxio-depressive disorders during the “Long COVID” among Tunisian patients
- F. Zaouali, A. Chaouch, F. Boubaker, S. Bouchareb, H. E. Mrabet, A. Ben Mabrouk, I. Touil, L. Boussoffara, J. Knani, N. Boudawara, W. Alaya, M. H. Sfar
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S215
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Introduction
Various psychiatric disorders were reported during the long COVID. The most frequently cited by physicians included the insomnia, the anxio-depressive disorders and the post-traumatic stress disorder. These symptoms would have a negative impact on the quality of life as well as on the socio-professional and economic efficiency.
ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the associated factors to anxio-depressive disorders during long COVID.
MethodsA cross sectional analytic study was conducted at Taher Sfar university hospital of Mahdia over a period of one year (from March 2020 to March 2021). It included patients consulting within at least 1 month after a COVID-19 documented infection. We used the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HAD) to screen for anxio-depressive disorders.
ResultsWe recruited 137 patients in the study. The median age was situated at 60 years, ranging from 17 to 82 years. The sex ratio M/F was 0.073. The median HAD score was 19 [8, 33]. Anxio-depressive disorders were present in 61% of cases. There was no statistically significant association between anxio-depressive disorders and post COVID symptoms except arthralgia and myalgia (38.6% vs 13.5; p=0,006 and 26.8% vs 5.4%; p=0.007, respectively). After the multivariate analysis, only arthralgia during long COVID was associated with the anxio-depressive disorders (95% CI 1.489 to 30.25, p=0.01).
ConclusionsArthralgia is a frequent symptom sometimes underestimated and in others overtreated. As it seems to be significantly associated with anxio-depressive disorders in the post covid period, physicians should pay attention to the history of a viral documented or probable infection and to psychiatric symptoms’ screening. Our results should however be confirmed by multicenter studies with larger sample size.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Organic and psychiatric symptoms of “Long COVID” among Tunisian patients: a cross sectional study
- F. Zaouali, A. Chaouch, F. Boubaker, S. Bouchareb, H. E. Mrabet, A. Ben Mabouk, I. Touil, L. Boussofara, J. Knani, N. Boudawara, W. Alaya, M. H. Sfar
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S215-S216
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Introduction
Long COVID is a condition characterized by long-term health problems persisting or appearing after the typical recovery period of COVID-19. Physical symptoms such as respiratory, neurological and musculoskeletal complaints were initially described in the foreground. A little after, psychological disorders have been widely reported.
ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to screen for somatic and anxio-depressive disorders of Long COVID.
MethodsA cross sectional descriptive study included the patients consulting within a minimum of 1 month after a COVID-19 infection. It was conducted at Taher Sfar university hospital of Mahdia over a period of one year from March 2020 to March 2021. A questionnaire and physical examination were used to look for physical symptoms and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HAD) was used to screen for anxio-depressive disorders.
ResultsWe recruited 137 patients. The median age was of 60 years with a sex ratio M/F at 0.073. Obesity was the most frequent comorbidity (36%) followed by diabetes (35%) and hypertension (32%). More than a quarter of patients was hospitalized (30%) during the acute phase, while the others (70%) were confined at home. The median stay duration at home or hospital was of 10 days with extremes ranging from 0 to 21 days. The most frequent post-COVID symptoms were dyspnea, mood disorders, myalgia, arthralgia, dry cough, sleep disorders and anorexia in 45%, 30%, 30%, 20%, 16%, 15% and 14% of cases, respectively. Pulmonary auscultation was normal in 86% of our patients, for the others we noted crackles, ronchi and wheezing among 9%, 1% and 1% of patients. The median oxygen saturation was 97% with a range from 93 to 99%. The majority of our patients (120) had saturation more than 95% in ambient air. The median HAD score was situated at 19 [8, 33]. Anxio-depressive disorders were present 61% of cases. A severe depression was noted among 24% of patients. and a severe anxiety among 28% of them.
ConclusionsOur study highlighted a high prevalence of anxio-depressive disorders (62%) which exeeds the prevalence described in the literature. The systematic use of the HAD scale among consultants could be the explanation. Thus, psychological screening and support should be considered when managing patients having a history of COVID-19 infection. Citizens should comply with the relevant legal provisions making vaccination compulsory as it was found that COVID-19 vaccination reduced long COVID risk.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared