Relación de la ansiedad en población universitaria con la cifra de fallecidos por la COVID-19 Translated title: Relationship of anxiety in the university population with the number of deaths from COVID-19
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Abstract
RESUMEN Introducción: Con la presencia de la COVID-19 a nivel planetario, la población
ha experimentado problemas físicos y mentales, que en casos extremos llevan a la muerte
y traen consigo altos índices de ansiedad de quienes se ven involucrados en esta situación.
Objetivos: Establecer la distribución geográfica de la ansiedad en estudiantes universitarios
ante el número de muertos por la COVID-19. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio cuantitativo,
exploratorio, descriptivo, transversal. La población fue de 720 universitarios varones
y mujeres de entre 17 a 64 años de edad, de veintitrés provincias del Ecuador, quienes
fueron evaluados con la Escala de Ansiedad Manifiesta para universitarios. Resultados:
El 12,2 % presenta ansiedad extrema y el 22,9 % ansiedad clínicamente significativa.
Se identifica la existencia de asociación significativa entre las regiones naturales
del Ecuador y el nivel de ansiedad de los estudiantes (p= 0,04). Por otra parte, se
establece la relación entre muertos por la COVID-19 por cada 100 000 habitantes por
provincia por día, y la ansiedad (p= 0,015). Conclusiones: Los estudiantes presentan
niveles elevados de ansiedad según su ubicación geográfica, relacionado con el incremento
importante de casos y fallecidos por la COVID-19. Finalmente, las variables sexo,
personas con las que vive, situación laboral, regiones naturales del Ecuador, ciclo
de estudio y carrera se relacionaron con los niveles de ansiedad.
Translated abstract
ABSTRACT Introduction: The COVID-19 worldwide, has brought with it that the population
experienced physical and mental problems, which in extreme cases lead to death and
bring with them high levels of anxiety for those who are involved in this type of
situation. Objectives: To establish the geographic distribution of the anxiety present
in university students in relation to the number of deaths due to COVID-19. Method:
A quantitative, exploratory, descriptive, cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted.
The population consisted of 720 male and female university students between 17 and
64 years of age, from twenty-three provinces of Ecuador, who were evaluated with the
Manifest Anxiety Scale for university students. Results: One of the main findings
was that 12,2 % show evidence of extreme anxiety and 22,9 % clinically significant
anxiety. The existence of a significant association between natural regions of Ecuador
and the anxiety level of students is identified (p= 0,04). Furthermore, the relationship
between deaths from COVID-19 per 100 000 inhabitants per province and anxiety (p=
0,015) is established. Conclusions: Finally, sex variables, people with whom you
live, employment situation, natural regions of Ecuador, cycle of study and university
career were related to anxiety levels.
Background: The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic is a public health emergency of international concern and poses a challenge to psychological resilience. Research data are needed to develop evidence-driven strategies to reduce adverse psychological impacts and psychiatric symptoms during the epidemic. The aim of this study was to survey the general public in China to better understand their levels of psychological impact, anxiety, depression, and stress during the initial stage of the COVID-19 outbreak. The data will be used for future reference. Methods: From 31 January to 2 February 2020, we conducted an online survey using snowball sampling techniques. The online survey collected information on demographic data, physical symptoms in the past 14 days, contact history with COVID-19, knowledge and concerns about COVID-19, precautionary measures against COVID-19, and additional information required with respect to COVID-19. Psychological impact was assessed by the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and mental health status was assessed by the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Results: This study included 1210 respondents from 194 cities in China. In total, 53.8% of respondents rated the psychological impact of the outbreak as moderate or severe; 16.5% reported moderate to severe depressive symptoms; 28.8% reported moderate to severe anxiety symptoms; and 8.1% reported moderate to severe stress levels. Most respondents spent 20–24 h per day at home (84.7%); were worried about their family members contracting COVID-19 (75.2%); and were satisfied with the amount of health information available (75.1%). Female gender, student status, specific physical symptoms (e.g., myalgia, dizziness, coryza), and poor self-rated health status were significantly associated with a greater psychological impact of the outbreak and higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression (p < 0.05). Specific up-to-date and accurate health information (e.g., treatment, local outbreak situation) and particular precautionary measures (e.g., hand hygiene, wearing a mask) were associated with a lower psychological impact of the outbreak and lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression (p < 0.05). Conclusions: During the initial phase of the COVID-19 outbreak in China, more than half of the respondents rated the psychological impact as moderate-to-severe, and about one-third reported moderate-to-severe anxiety. Our findings identify factors associated with a lower level of psychological impact and better mental health status that can be used to formulate psychological interventions to improve the mental health of vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 epidemic.
Summary Background An ongoing outbreak of pneumonia associated with a novel coronavirus was reported in Wuhan city, Hubei province, China. Affected patients were geographically linked with a local wet market as a potential source. No data on person-to-person or nosocomial transmission have been published to date. Methods In this study, we report the epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, radiological, and microbiological findings of five patients in a family cluster who presented with unexplained pneumonia after returning to Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China, after a visit to Wuhan, and an additional family member who did not travel to Wuhan. Phylogenetic analysis of genetic sequences from these patients were done. Findings From Jan 10, 2020, we enrolled a family of six patients who travelled to Wuhan from Shenzhen between Dec 29, 2019 and Jan 4, 2020. Of six family members who travelled to Wuhan, five were identified as infected with the novel coronavirus. Additionally, one family member, who did not travel to Wuhan, became infected with the virus after several days of contact with four of the family members. None of the family members had contacts with Wuhan markets or animals, although two had visited a Wuhan hospital. Five family members (aged 36–66 years) presented with fever, upper or lower respiratory tract symptoms, or diarrhoea, or a combination of these 3–6 days after exposure. They presented to our hospital (The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen) 6–10 days after symptom onset. They and one asymptomatic child (aged 10 years) had radiological ground-glass lung opacities. Older patients (aged >60 years) had more systemic symptoms, extensive radiological ground-glass lung changes, lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, and increased C-reactive protein and lactate dehydrogenase levels. The nasopharyngeal or throat swabs of these six patients were negative for known respiratory microbes by point-of-care multiplex RT-PCR, but five patients (four adults and the child) were RT-PCR positive for genes encoding the internal RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and surface Spike protein of this novel coronavirus, which were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis of these five patients' RT-PCR amplicons and two full genomes by next-generation sequencing showed that this is a novel coronavirus, which is closest to the bat severe acute respiatory syndrome (SARS)-related coronaviruses found in Chinese horseshoe bats. Interpretation Our findings are consistent with person-to-person transmission of this novel coronavirus in hospital and family settings, and the reports of infected travellers in other geographical regions. Funding The Shaw Foundation Hong Kong, Michael Seak-Kan Tong, Respiratory Viral Research Foundation Limited, Hui Ming, Hui Hoy and Chow Sin Lan Charity Fund Limited, Marina Man-Wai Lee, the Hong Kong Hainan Commercial Association South China Microbiology Research Fund, Sanming Project of Medicine (Shenzhen), and High Level-Hospital Program (Guangdong Health Commission).
