The high mental health burden of "Long COVID" and its association with on-going physical and respiratory symptoms in all adults discharged from hospital. Issue 6 (24th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Naidu, Sindhu B.; Shah, Amar J.; Saigal, Anita; Smith, Colette; Brill, Simon E.; Goldring, James; Hurst, John R.; Jarvis, Hannah; Lipman, Marc; Mandal, Swapna
• Is Part Of: European respiratory journal. Volume 57:Issue 6(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-06-24
• Subjects: Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Respiration -- Periodicals; 616.2
• DOI: 10.1183/13993003.04364-2020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0903-1936

Abstract

During previous severe coronavirus outbreaks, 15% of survivors suffered from depression and 33% from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at a mean follow-up of 22.6 and 32.2 months, respectively [1]. A recent systematic review identified that whilst physical symptoms receive most attention, the effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) upon mental health may be equally important [2]. One meta-analysis estimated the prevalence of depression and PTSD in the general public during this pandemic at 24% and 15%, respectively [3]. In adults with pre-existing asthma and COPD, the prevalence of depression and PTSD was 31.5% and 11.3%, respectively [4]. For patients with acute COVID-19 infection, this increased to 42% for depression and 96% for symptoms consistent with PTSD [3]. Adults discharged from hospital with COVID-19 may experience "Long COVID", where mental health symptoms are significant and linked to physical symptoms such as breathlessness. Clinicians should use brief screening questionnaires to support their recovery. https://bit.ly/3d22SJM