People with Post-COVID-19 Condition Face Higher Psychiatric Symptom Prevalence, reveals JAMA study

Post–COVID-19 condition, commonly known as long COVID, is characterized by new symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection that last more than three months and continue to affect patients' lives. While there has been growing awareness of physical symptoms associated with PCC, less is known about the prevalence of psychiatric symptoms in this population. This study aims to assess the prevalence of psychiatric symptoms in US adults with PCC and evaluate their access to treatment.

The study utilized data from the 2022 NHIS, a nationally representative cross-sectional survey. The analysis included 25,122 participants, representing approximately 231 million US adults. Depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ-8) and General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) instrument, respectively. Participants were also asked about sleep difficulties, cognitive difficulties, disabling fatigue, and cost-related barriers to mental health care.

The key findings of the study were:

• The weighted prevalence of PCC in the study population was 3.4% (95% CI, 3.1%-3.6%).

• Participants with PCC had higher rates of depression symptoms (16.8% vs 7.1%; adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.96) and anxiety symptoms (16.7% vs 6.3%; AOR, 2.21) compared to those without PCC.

• Sleep difficulties (41.5% vs 22.7%; AOR, 1.95), cognitive difficulties (35.0% vs 19.5%; AOR, 2.04), and disabling fatigue (4.0% vs 1.6%; AOR, 1.85) were also more prevalent in the PCC group.

• Among participants with depression or anxiety, individuals with PCC had a similar likelihood of not receiving treatment (wPr, 28.2% vs 34.9%). However, they were more likely to report cost-related barriers to accessing mental health counseling or therapy (37.2% vs 23.3%; AOR, 2.05).

The study highlights the higher prevalence of psychiatric symptoms among individuals with PCC and the increased likelihood of experiencing cost-related barriers to accessing therapy. These findings suggest the need for care pathways for PCC to prioritize mental health screening and affordable treatment options. By addressing these challenges, healthcare providers can better support individuals with PCC and improve their overall quality of life.

Reference:

Naik H, Tran KC, Staples JA, Perlis RH, Levin A. Psychiatric Symptoms, Treatment Uptake, and Barriers to Mental Health Care Among US Adults With Post–COVID-19 Condition. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(4):e248481. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.8481