Evaluation of symptoms along with depression, anxiety and stress levels of Sars-CoV-2 positive patients during the second wave in the city of Indore, Central India – a cross sectional study

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. The consequences of the second wave hitting India have drastically laid a huge impact on the mental state of patients. The second wave had proven to be far more dangerous and hence the psychological evaluation needed to be conducted to know the scenario of patients suffering from SARS-CoV-2. OBJECTIVE. This study was undertaken to evaluate the symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 patients along with the existing depression, anxiety and stress levels amongst them. MATERIAL AND METHODS. An observational, cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 351 patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 during the second wave in Indore, Central India. The questionnaire consisted of questions pertaining to socio-demographic characteristics, clinical signs and symptoms. Evaluation of depression, anxiety and stress levels were done by use of 21 item Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21).  RESULTS. The most common symptom amongst patients was cough (42.2%) followed by fever (40.2%). Sixty-nine (19.6%) patients were asymptomatic. Depression score was found to have significant, positive weak correlation with age (ρ-0.124, p-0.020, p value <.05). No significant difference was observed between the depression, anxiety and stress score of males and females. Based on the scores assigned to the responses, patients who tested positive were belonging to normal category with no diagnosed depression, anxiety or stress. CONCLUSION. The present study showed fever, cough, headache, weakness, and chest pain as the common sign and symptoms of COVID-19 during the second wave. There was a prevalence of low levels of anxiety, stress and depression amongst patients in Radha Saomi Covid Care Centre, Indore during the second wave.