The COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to adversely affect the mental health of healthcare workers (HCWs). The public healthcare system in Greece was already facing serious challenges at the outset of the outbreak following years of austerity and an escalating refugee crisis. This multi-center, cross-sectional study aims to assess the levels and associated risk factors of anxiety, depression, traumatic stress and burnout of frontline staff in Greece. A total of 464 self-selected HCWs in six reference hospitals completed a questionnaire comprising sociodemographic and work-related information and validated psychometric scales. The proportion of HCWs with symptoms of moderate/severe depression, anxiety and traumatic stress were 30%, 25% and 33%, respectively. Burnout levels were particularly high with 65% of respondents scoring moderate/severe in emotional exhaustion, 92% severe in depersonalization and 51% low/moderate in personal accomplishment. Predictive factors of adverse psychological outcomes included fear, perceived stress, risk of infection, lack of protective equipment and low social support. The psychological burden associated with COVID-19 in healthcare professionals in Greece is considerable, with more than half experiencing at least mild mental health difficulties. Findings signal the need for immediate organizational and individually tailored interventions to enhance resilience and support wellbeing under pandemic conditions.
INTRODUCTION Telehealth for COVID-19 patients is still limited. We aimed to assess the clinical effects of a home-based tele-rehabilitation exercise program following hospital discharge during the first lockdown in Greece, April to July 2020. METHODS A pre-and post-intervention design was applied in two stages. Firstly, patients were instructed to use a specially designed for COVID-19, e-book during four tele-health sessions. Afterwards, a 2-month home-based program consisted of self-practice exercise and one-hour supervised telerehabilitation exercise sessions every 10 days, was delivered. At baseline and at the end of the program, participants were interviewed about their physical, psychological status and quality of life (QoL) during the posthospitalization period. The IPAQ-Gr, the HADS and the SF-36 questionnaires were used, respectively, and the participants were functionally assessed via teleconferences, using the 60 sec Sit to Stand Test (60secSTS), the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and the 3 min Step Test (3MST). RESULTS Seventy-four patients, median age 52.5 (IQR: 43-61) years were included at the first stage. From those, only 22 patients, mean ± SD age 50.1 ± 13.2 years completed the 2-month exercise program. The training program was well tolerated by all 22 patients. The mean number of unsupervised exercise sessions was 18.4 ± 3.5. No adverse effects were observed either during initial and follow-up assessment via tele-communication or during home-exercise sessions. Training improved significantly (p<0.001) lower limb muscle performance ], anxiety [median (IQR) HADS: 9 (6-13) to 4.3 (3.2-9.6)], depression [median (IQR) HADS: 5 (3-8) to 1.8 (0.9-3.7)], QoL [mean ± SD SF-36pcs: 37.5 ± 10.3 to 52.1 ± 6, and mean ± SD SF-36mcs: 42.9 ± 11.6 to 45.5 ± 12.3]. CONCLUSIONS Tele-rehabilitation may be feasible and may improve physical and psychological status of COVID-19 patients after hospital discharge.
Evidence to date suggests that a significant proportion of COVID-19 patients experience adverse psychological outcomes and neuropsychiatric complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection and subsequent hospitalization on the mental health, sleep, and quality of life of COVID-19 survivors. Patients were assessed 1–2 months after hospital discharge using standardized screening tools for depression and anxiety (HADS), post-traumatic stress disorder (IES-R), insomnia (AIS), and quality of life (EQ-5D-5L). Sociodemographic factors, comorbidities, disease severity and type of hospitalization were also collected. Amongst the 143 patients included, mental health symptoms were common (depression—19%; anxiety—27%; traumatic stress—39%; insomnia—33%) and more frequently reported in female than in male patients. Age, smoking status, comorbidities and illness severity were not found to significantly correlate with the presence of mood, sleep, or stress disorders. Finally, quality of life was worse for patients requiring ICU (p = 0.0057) or a longer hospital stay (p < 0.001) but was unaffected by factors such as sex and other measured outcomes. These findings highlight the need for appropriate intervention to properly manage the immediate and enduring mental health complications of COVID-19.
ACTIV-3/TICO Study Group* Background: Ensovibep (MP0420) is a designed ankyrin repeat protein, a novel class of engineered proteins, under investigation as a treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.Objective: To investigate if ensovibep, in addition to remdesivir and other standard care, improves clinical outcomes among patients hospitalized with COVID-19 compared with standard care alone.
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