O IMPACTO DA COVID-19 NA SAÚDE MENTAL DOS IDOSOS: UMA REVISÃO DE LITERATURA

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes Covid-19 disease, was first detected on December 31, 2019, in Wuhan province, China. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the start of the pandemic. Although the number of cases has decreased significantly compared to the height of the pandemic, we still face major biopsychosocial, economic and political impasses. These prolonged impasses and complications caused by the coronavirus can be called “Long Covid”. Furthermore, the neuroinvasive potential of the virus in the nervous system is worrying, especially in elderly people and associated with other comorbidities. The main objective of this study is to mention the impacts that Covid-19 can have on the mental health of the elderly, based on a literature review. A bibliographical review was carried out based on articles and publications available in the SciELO, VHL Health and Google Scholar databases, with a time frame from 2020 to 2023. The results indicate that among the main impacts on mental health associated with Covid- 19 in elderly patients there is a worsening of comorbidities, a more frequent feeling of loneliness, socioeconomic vulnerability, worsening of mental disorders, among others.