Abstract
Today, every continent in the world is affected by the novel coronavirus2019 (COVID-19). Saudi Arabia has also suffered from this highly contagious, socially disruptive, infectious disease. Our aim was to assess the anxiety and depression prevalence and identify the associated risk factors among the general population of Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia, during COVID-19 outbreak. This cross-sectional study was conducted using a web-based survey. A total of 651 participants were recruited who were ≥18 years old and lived in Riyadh city during the COVID-19 pandemic. We collected sociodemographic information of the participants and assessed their COVID-19-related knowledge assessment. We used the Arabic versions of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 questionnaire and the Patient Health Questionnaire to assess the status of an individual’s anxiety and depression, respectively. We observed 28.7% and 25.5% prevalence of depression and anxiety among the general population, respectively. Females, younger people (age < 35 years), and unmarried persons showed a significantly higher prevalence of anxiety and depression. Binary logistic regression analysis also revealed that female gender, age younger than 35 years, having history of psychiatric diseases, and spending more than one hour per day on following COVID-19 news were associated with anxiety and depression. Retired participants were less likely to suffer from anxiety or depression during the pandemic. In this study, females, younger people (age < 35 years), and individuals with history of psychiatric patients were identified as vulnerable groups who need support during this crisis. We also recommend that the general public must limit their time of watching and following COVID-19-related news.
Highlights
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a viral infection caused due to coronavirus (Coronavirus 2019)
Seven participants (1.1%) had a history of confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, and 59 participants (9.1%) had a relative and/or friend who tested positive for COVID-19
Living with how many persons during curfew Working in a sector that was exempt from the curfew Have movement permit during the curfew History of COVID-19 positive Relatives or friends with COVID-19 History of psychiatric disorder Time spent on following COVID-19 news Knowledge of COVID-19
Summary
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a viral infection caused due to coronavirus (Coronavirus 2019). Covid-19 cases emerged in December 2019, in the province of Wuhan, China [1]. By May 5, 2020, WHO had reported a total of 3,517,345 COVID-19-confirmed cases and 243,401 COVID19-related deaths worldwide (Coronavirus disease 2020). In Saudi Arabia, the first case of COVID-19 was reported on March 2, 2020. Within the 4 days, there were a total of 30,251 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 200 COVID-19-related deaths, and 5,431 recovered cases [3]. All access routes in and out of the country were closed, including international and domestic flights and land and sea borders. The Umrah was suspended and the two holy mosques; Al-Masjid al-Ḥarām in Mecca and Al-Masjid an-Nabawī in Medina were temporarily closed for sterilization. Food supplies, vital services, and pharmacies remained functional and were encouraged via express delivery services through smart device applications [4]
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