Prevalence and Determinants of Immediate and Long-Term PTSD Consequences of Coronavirus-Related (CoV-1 and CoV-2) Pandemics among Healthcare Professionals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Buthaina Al Falasi,Mai Al Qubaisi,Mouza Al Mazrouei,Murat Dalkilinc,Ovidiu Constantin Baltatu,Aisha Al Ali,Hashel Al Tunaiji,Maithah Al Dhamani,Luciana Aparecida Campos,Mai Al Ali,Mariam Al Kindi

doi:10.3390/ijerph18042182

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to rise. In order to control the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare professionals have been subjected to increased exposure to work stress. In this systematic review, we aimed at investigating the prevalence and determinants of immediate and long-term post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) effects on healthcare professionals by the COVID-19 (SARS CoV-2) and SARS-2003 (SARS CoV-1) pandemics. Methods: This systematic review was conducted according to the recommendations of the Protocols for Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. Only studies reporting the prevalence of PTSD (frequency, percentage) and related risk factors (adjusted odds ratio (OR)) in healthcare professionals (HCPs) during the SARS CoV-2 and SARS CoV-1 pandemics were included. The following databases were screened: Medline, Embase, PsychINFO, and Health Psychosocial Instrument (HaPI). Results: Six of eight studies reported PTSD symptoms among healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in China (three), Singapore (one), India (one), and the United States of America (USA) (two), while two studies reported symptoms during the SARS-2003 pandemic in China (one) and Singapore (one). Sample sizes ranged from 263 to 5062 with a combined total of 10,074 participants. All of the studies self-reported the level of exposure to coronaviruses (CoV-1 and CoV-2) and severity of PTSD. Seven studies reported the prevalence of immediate PTSD and determinants, while one study reported delayed-onset PTSD (3 years after CoV-1 pandemic). Determinants of immediate PTSD were reported for the CoV-2 pandemic, while those for long-term PTSD were reported for the CoV-1 pandemic. Conclusions: A comprehensive understanding of the prevalence and determinants of immediate or long-term pandemic PTSD for healthcare workers can improve prevention, diagnosis, and management. Rigorous research measuring the prevalence of PTSD and its associated risk factors (adjusted OR) for the CoV-2 pandemic are envisaged. Although strategies to resolve immediate PTSD are key, long-term PTSD must not be overlooked.

Highlights

In December 2019, a newly discovered infectious coronavirus (CoV-2) disease occurred in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China [1]
We systematically reviewed the literature for the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and associated risk factors
107 remained for title and abstract screening, of which 44 were excluded and 63 remained remained for title and abstract screening, of which 44 were excluded and 63 remained for for full-text examination, of which 55 were excluded, as the goal was to include crossfull-text examination, of which 55 were excluded, as the goal was to include cross-sectional sectional and cohort studies that reported the prevalence of PTDS and carried out a reand cohort studies that reported the prevalence of PTDS and carried out a regression gression analysis of possible risk factors

Summary

Introduction

In December 2019, a newly discovered infectious coronavirus (CoV-2) disease occurred in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China [1]. The rapid global spread of the disease led to the declaration of a pandemic on 11 March 2020 [1] The primary reported manifestation of COVID-19 is severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (SARS), leading to death in the most severe cases [3] It was named CoV-2 since CoV-1 appeared as a pandemic in 2003 and caused a similar effect of SARS [1]. We aimed at investigating the prevalence and determinants of immediate and long-term post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) effects on healthcare professionals by the COVID-19 (SARS CoV-2) and SARS-2003 (SARS CoV-1) pandemics. Studies reporting the prevalence of PTSD (frequency, percentage) and related risk factors (adjusted odds ratio (OR)) in healthcare professionals (HCPs) during the SARS CoV-2 and SARS CoV-1 pandemics were included. Strategies to resolve immediate PTSD are key, long-term PTSD must not be overlooked

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion