CORRELATES OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN INPATIENTS WITH COVID-19 IN TAIWAN
Authors: Lee *Wei-Chen , Chen Chun-Lin , Pan Yi-Ju 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Background
The COVID-19 outbreak in late 2019 has been sweeping the world since 2020. Inpatients with COVID-19 may experience high levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms during the pandemic. The existing results with COVID-19 inpatients varied widely, with the reported prevalence of anxiety and depression ranging from 19% to 60% and from 13% to 80%, respectively [1-5].

Aims & Objectives
No prior study has examined these symptoms with COVID-19 inpatients in Taiwan. Using data from a tertiary hospital in Northern Taiwan, we investigated anxiety and depressive symptoms and the associated sociodemographic or clinical characteristics in these patients.

Methods
Data of anxiety and depressive symptoms by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) as well as the sociodemographic and clinical correlates were retrospectively retrieved and analyzed for COVID-19 patients admitted to Far Eastern Memorial Hospital from June 4 to June 28, 2021.

Results
In total, 152 patients with COVID-19 were included. Among all the COVID-19 inpatients, 9.9% (n= 15) had an HADS anxiety score greater than or equal to 8 points and 7.2% (n= 11) had an HADS depression score greater than or equal to 8 points. COVID-19 inpatients with HADS anxiety score greater than or equal to 8 points or HADS depression score greater than or equal to 8 points was found to have a longer length of hospital stay compared to the respective comparison group. The female patients, patients aged &gt;55 years, and patients hospitalized for &gt;15 days had significantly higher anxiety scores than did the corresponding comparison groups.

Discussion & Conclusions
COVID-19 inpatients with either anxiety or depression were associated with longer length of hospital stay. Age, sex, and hospitalization length were found to be associated with anxiety symptoms in inpatients with COVID-19. Future studies are warranted to elucidate differential mechanisms potentially related to anxiety and depressive symptoms in patients with COVID-19.

References
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