Clinical features and outcomes of COVID-19 patients hospitalized for psychiatric disorders: a French multi-centered prospective observational study

Post-COVID-19 conditions in children and adolescents diagnosed with COVID-19

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of and the factors associated with post-COVID-2019 condition in COVID-19 children and adolescents in Germany.

METHODS

The present retrospective cohort study used data from the Disease Analyzer database (IQVIA), and included patients aged <18 years who were diagnosed with COVID-19 in one of 524 general and 81 pediatric practices in Germany between October 2020 and August 2021 (index date: first COVID-19 diagnosis). Post-COVID-19 condition was assessed between the index date and November 2021. Covariates included age, sex, type of practice, and chronic conditions documented in at least 1% of the population.

RESULTS

There were 6568 children and adolescents included in this study (mean [SD] age 10.1 [4.9] years; 49.2% girls). The prevalence of post-COVID-19 condition was 1.7% in the population. Patients aged 13-17 years were more likely to be diagnosed with post-COVID-19 condition compared with those being aged ≤5 years (RR = 3.14). Anxiety disorders (RR = 2.53), somatoform disorders (RR = 2.11), and allergic rhinitis (RR = 2.02) were also significantly associated with post-COVID-19 condition.

CONCLUSION

Post-COVID-19 condition was rare in COVID-19 children and adolescents in Germany. Data from other settings are warranted to confirm these findings.

IMPACT

The prevalence of post-COVID-19 condition was 1.7% in this population of children and adolescents. Older children and adolescents were more likely to be diagnosed with post-COVID-19 condition than their younger counterparts. Anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders, and allergic rhinitis were significantly associated with post-COVID-19 condition. More data from other settings and countries are warranted to corroborate or refute these findings.

Prevalence of COVID-19 and Psychotropic Drug Treatment in Psychiatric In-patients in Germany in 2020: Results from a Nationwide Pilot Survey

INTRODUCTION

In patients with a pre-existing mental disorder, an increased risk for a first manifestation of a psychiatric disorder in COVID-19 patients, a more severe course of COVID-19 and an increased mortality have been described. Conversely, observations of lower COVID-19 incidences in psychiatric in-patients suggested protective effects of psychiatric treatment and/or psychotropic drugs against COVID-19.

METHODS

A retrospective multi-center study was conducted in 24 German psychiatric university hospitals. Between April and December 2020 (the first and partly second wave of COVID-19), the effects of COVID-19 were assessed on psychiatric in-patient care, the incidence and course of a SARS-CoV-2 infection, and treatment with psychotropic drugs.

RESULTS

Patients (n=36,322) were admitted to the hospitals. Mandatory SARS-CoV-2 tests before/during admission were reported by 23 hospitals (95.8%), while 18 (75%) conducted regular testing during the hospital stay. Two hundred thirty-two (0.6%) patients were tested SARS-CoV-2-positive. Thirty-seven (16%) patients were receiving medical treatment for COVID-19 at the psychiatric hospital, ten (4.3%) were transferred to an intermediate/intensive care unit, and three (1.3%) died. The most common prescription for SARS-CoV-2-positive patients was for second-generation antipsychotics (n=79, 28.2%) and antidepressants (SSRIs (n=38, 13.5%), mirtazapine (n=36, 12.9%) and SNRIs (n=29, 10.4%)).

DISCUSSION

Contrary to previous studies, our results showed a low number of infections and mortality in SARS-CoV-2-positive psychiatric patients. Several preventive measures seem effective to protect this vulnerable group. Our observations are compatible with the hypothesis of a protective effect of psychotropic drugs against COVID-19 as the overall mortality and need for specific medical treatment was low.

Mental health outcome in hospitalized COVID-19 patients: An observational analysis from North Indian tertiary care hospital

Aim

The study investigate the severity of perceived stress and wide domains of psychiatric symptoms reported on initial screening in hospitalized patients of COVID-19 with a second aim to determine the role of sociodemographic factors and coping styles in the hospitalized patients of COVID-19.

Method

Total 224 patients of COVID-19 infection, hospitalized in various isolation facilities were assessed via web-based self-reported questionnaires on perceived stress scale, brief cope inventory, and DSM-5 crosscutting level-1 questionnaire.

Results

Majority of the patients reported moderate level of stress followed by mild and severe. Depression and Anxiety symptoms were most common psychopathologies though the patients have reported greater severity in various domains of psychiatric symptoms. Coping styles explains most of variance (64.8%) of the perceived stress. Similarly total PSS scores, coping styles, COVID-19 status and sociodemographic factors contributed significantly to the variance of all psychiatric symptoms.

Conclusion

Factors like female gender, being married, belonging to nuclear families, service class and urban domicile are the significant factors determining higher risk of stress and developing more psychopathologies. Furthermore, coping styles used by the patients have a greater moderating effect on mental health symptoms and their perceived stress which can be a major area for interventions to reduce the mental health morbidities.