Abstract
BackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disproportionately impacts individuals with medical conditions, including with respect to their mental health. The present study investigated depression and anxiety and their correlates among individuals with medical conditions in Bangladesh. MethodsSubjects were recruited to participate in an internet-based survey. Data were collected from November 2020 to January 2021 using convenience sampling by a semi-structured questionnaire through online platforms. Multiple regression analyses were performed to determine associations applying Bonferroni correction (p < 0.004). The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) measured depression and anxiety, respectively. ResultsNine-hundred-and-seventy-one participants (50.1% male; mean age = 42.29 ± 15.86 years; age range = 18-80 years) with medical conditions were included in final analyses. The most frequently reported conditions were diabetes, hypertension, obesity, heart disease, asthma, and anemia. Estimates of moderate to severe depression and anxiety were 38.9% and 35.2%, respectively. The mean depression and anxiety scores were significantly higher among participants who reported having hypertension, obesity, heart disease, asthma, anemia, cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Using Bonferroni correction (p < 0.004), depression was associated with being female and a student, having poorer quality of life, poorer health status and greater numbers of co-morbidities, not engaging in physical exercise and tobacco smoking. Anxiety was associated with being female and a student, having lower socioeconomic status, poorer quality of life, poorer health status and greater numbers of co-morbidities, less sleep and tobacco smoking. ConclusionsDepression and anxiety are prevalent among individuals with medical conditions and correlate with sociodemographic, quality-of-life and smoking measures. Interventions targeting vulnerable groups should be employed and investigated.
Highlights
A public health emergency situation related to the coronavirus dis eases 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is being experienced globally, as declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) (Mahase, 2020; Tasnim et al, 2021)
A sizeable minority reported sleeping less than 7 h/day (41.9%), and most did not engage in physical activity (77.5%)
Depression and anxiety are common during the COVID-19 pandemic (Hossain et al, 2021; Islam, Ferdous, et al, 2021; Islam, Ferdous, & Potenza, 2020; Islam, Sujan, et al, 2020; Islam, Tasnim, et al, 2021; Tasnim et al, 2021), and people with affective and medical concerns may be vulnerable to experiencing COVID-19
Summary
A public health emergency situation related to the coronavirus dis eases 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is being experienced globally, as declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) (Mahase, 2020; Tasnim et al, 2021). In Bangladesh as of January 17, 2021, 527,632 COVID-19 cases have been reported, including 7906 fatalities (World Health Organization, 2021). Associations between pre-existing medical conditions and severity and impacts of COVID-19 were initially demonstrated by case series and retrospective cohort studies (Fang et al, 2020). The present study investigated depression and anxiety and their correlates among individuals with medical conditions in Bangladesh. The mean depression and anxiety scores were significantly higher among participants who reported having hypertension, obesity, heart disease, asthma, anemia, cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Using Bonferroni correction (p < 0.004), depression was associated with being female and a student, having poorer quality of life, poorer health status and greater numbers of co-morbidities, not engaging in physical exercise and tobacco smoking.
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