Prevalence of poor psychiatric status and sleep quality among frontline healthcare workers during and after the COVID-19 outbreak: a longitudinal study

Hailong Ding,Yifang Zhou,Tieying Shi,Brian J Hall,Yingrui Guo,Yifan Zhang,Teris Cheung,Yanqing Tang,Yu-Tao Xiang,Baoyan Zhang

doi:10.1038/s41398-020-01190-w

Abstract

Poor psychiatric status and sleep quality were common among frontline healthcare workers (FHWs) during the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), but the change in these mental health outcomes overtime remained unknown. This study compared the psychiatric status and sleep quality of FHWs during and after the COVID-19 outbreak in China. FHWs who volunteered to work in Hubei province (the COVID-19 epicenter) were assessed at baseline during the COVID-19 outbreak and re-assessed when they returned to their place of origin (Liaoning province) after the COVID-19 outbreak. Participants’ psychiatric status and sleep quality were measured with the Symptom CheckList-90 (SCL-90) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), respectively. A total of 494 FHWs was assessed at baseline and 462 at follow-up assessments. The prevalence of poor psychiatric status was 10.5% at baseline and increased to 14.9% at the follow-up assessment (P = 0.04). The corresponding figures of poor sleep quality at baseline and follow-up assessment were 16.4% and 27.9%, respectively (P < 0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis found that severe fatigue (p = 0.003, OR = 1.266, 95% CI = 1.081–1.483), poor sleep quality (p < 0.001, OR = 1.283, 95% CI = 1.171–1.405), and history of pre-existing psychiatric disorders (p < 0.001, OR = 5.085, 95% CI = 2.144–12.06) were independently associated with higher odds of poor psychiatric status among the FHWs. Poor psychiatric status and sleep quality were common among FHWs during the COVID-19 outbreak, and the prevalence increased following their volunteer experiences. This suggests a critical need for longer-term psychological support for this subpopulation.

Highlights

Introduction The2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was first reported in late 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China[1], and was declared by the World Health Organization as a pandemic in March 20202
Overall psychiatric status with the domain scores and poor sleep quality of participates were compared between baseline and follow-up assessments (Table 2)
Compared with the baseline assessment, the prevalence of poor mental health significantly increased at follow-up assessment [10.5% (95% confidence interval 7.8–13.2%) at baseline vs. 14.9% at follow-up; p = 0.04]

Summary

Introduction

2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was first reported in late 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China[1], and was declared by the World Health Organization as a pandemic in March 20202. 73.4%, respectively, among FHWs in China[9]. Reported correlates of psychiatric problems included age, gender, having organic diseases, and pre-existing depression or anxiety[10,11,12,13,14]. A survey conducted in the late stage of the COVID-19 outbreak found that the prevalence of poor mental health status, significant stress, and poor sleep quality was 10.8%, 23.2%, and 18.9%, respectively, among FHWs in Hubei province[19]

Methods

Results

Conclusion