Sintomatologia ansiosa em pacientes acometidos pela COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction: The Coronavirus-2019 pandemic (COVID-19) negatively impacted mental health indicators, with possible psychiatric implications. However, the association between the direct involvement of COVID-19 and the development of anxious symptoms in individuals of the Brazilian population is still unclear. Objective: To evaluate the occurrence of anxious symptoms in Brazilian individuals after COVID-19. Method: An analytical epidemiological study was carried out with 266 Brazilians with a previous diagnosis of COVID-19. An online form was applied, consisting of a Sociodemographic Questionnaire, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (version 24.0). The bootstrapping technique was used to reduce sample statistical bias, considering confidence intervals of 95% (p < 0.05). Results: Most participants showed a moderate level of post-COVID-19 anxiety (42.9%). Scores compatible with severe post-infection anxiety symptoms were also observed, according to BAI, in 32.3% of the participants, with a mean score of 24.85 (SD=11.7) in females. Furthermore, we found a correlation between the use of drugs for the treatment of COVID-19 and the manifestation of severe symptoms of anxiety, and this with the need to use psychotropic drugs in post-infection individuals. Discussion: The results have implications for studies on the effects of COVID-19 on negative outcomes related to mental health in the Brazilian population. We signal an advance in the research approach on COVID-19 by bringing into the agenda the association of different types of anxiety in a Brazilian population sample exclusively affected by COVID-19.