Post-Traumatic Stress Risk Among COVID-19 Survivors in Colombia

Abstract

BackgroundSymptoms of post-traumatic stress are common in people who have experienced a life experience that significantly threatened their physical or psychological integrity. Nevertheless, little information about post-traumatic stress disorder risk (PSTD-R) in Colombian COVID-19 survivors is available. ObjectiveTo establish the prevalence and variables associated with PTSD-R in a sample of COVID-19 survivors in Santa Marta, Colombia. MethodA cross-sectional study was designed with a non-probabilistic sample of adult COVID-19 survivors. Participants were demographically characterized and completed scales for depression risk, insomnia risk, and PTSD-R. ResultsThree hundred and thirty COVID-19 survivors between 18 and 89 years participated; 61.5% were women. The frequency of depression risk was 49.7%; insomnia risk, 60.6%; and PTSD-R, 13.3%. Depression risk (OR=41.4, 95% CI 5.5–311.6), insomnia risk (OR=5.3, 95% CI 1.8–18.7), low income (OR=3.5, 95% CI 1.4–8.7) and being married or free union (OR=2.7, 95% CI 1.1–6.2) were associated with PTSD-R. ConclusionsTwo out of every fifteen COVID-19 survivors are in PTSD-R. Depression and insomnia risk are strongly associated with PTSD-R among Colombian COVID-19 survivors. Studies that follow COVID-19 survivors long-term are needed.