COVID-19 related poor mental health and sleep disorders in rheumatic patients: a citizen science project

BMC Psychiatry

Silvia Ostuzzi¹  Massimiliano Buoli²  Cristina Posio³  Alessandro Lo Muscio³  Enrico Cumbo⁴  Raffaele Di Taranto⁴  Roberto Caporali⁴  Francesca Ingegnoli⁴ 

[1] ALOMAR Lombard Association for Rheumatic Diseases, Milan, Italy;Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy;Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy;Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy;Division of Clinical Rheumatology, ASST Pini, Milan, Italy;Department of Clinical Sciences & Community Health, Research Center for Adult and Pediatric Rheumatic Diseases, Università degli Studi di Milano, Piazza Cardinal Ferrari 1, 20122, Milan, Italy;

关键词: Rheumatic diseases;    Perceived stress;    Post-traumatic stress disorders;    COVID-19;    Anxiety;    Depressive symptoms;    Quarantine;    Inflammatory arthritis;    Connective tissue diseases;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12888-021-03389-7

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundPatients with chronic rheumatic diseases (RDs) are more vulnerable and the containment measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic might have severe psychological consequences. We investigated the presence of and risk factors associated with poor mental health, sleep disorders among RDs during the pandemic.MethodsThis cross-sectional Italian citizen science project evaluated the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in patients with RDs. Between May and September 2020, eleven RD patients’ associations sent the survey by using their mailing list and the related webpage and social network. 507 RD patients completed an ad-hoc anonymous online survey including the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Impact Event Scale-Revised (IES-R).ResultsThe mean scores on the PSS-10 and the IES-R were 18.1 and 29.7, respectively. Higher PSS scores were associated with younger age (p <  0.01), female gender (p <  0.01), overweight/obesity (p = 0.01), psychiatric pharmacotherapy (p <  0.01), and anxiety for loss of income (p <  0.01). Higher IES-R scores were associated with female gender (p <  0.01), intestinal diseases (p = 0.03), anxiety (p <  0.01), and health concern (p <  0.01). Among 375 patients with inflammatory arthritis, 246 (65.6%) had trouble staying asleep, 238 (63.5%) falling asleep, and 112 (29.9%) had dreams about the pandemic. Older age (OR = 1.038, CI 1.002–1.076), psychiatric pharmacotherapy (OR = 25.819, CI 11.465–58.143), and COVID infection (OR = 2.783, CI 1.215–6.372) were predictive of insomnia during the pandemic.ConclusionsA considerable COVID-19 related psychosocial burden has been detected in RDs. Different factors were predictive of poor mental health and sleep disorders in these patients. Focused supportive strategies should be implemented to improve the psychological well-being of fragile patients during pandemics.

【 授权许可】

CC BY