Prevalence of anxiety and depression in patients with cardiovascular diseases during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The preventive and compulsory social isolation (ASPO by its acronym in Spanish) as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic flattened the contagion curve. However, its prolonged implementation could have a negative effect on the mental health of the population. The objective of our study was to observe this effect on the prevalence of anxiety and/or depression in a cardiovascular patients’ sample and to associate the results with risk factors and/or coronary artery disease. On day 90 of ASPO, 3542 participants answered an electronic questionnaire that included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale. The average age of the sample was 60.2±14 years (54.7% women). The prevalence of anxiety was 13.5 % (n = 480), depression 16.7% (n = 592), and 44% of participants with depression had symptoms of anxiety (composite disorder). The female sex was more affected (anxiety 18.8% vs. 13.3% and depression 19.1% vs. 13.7%, p <0.0001). Both disorders were inversely associated with age, with participants ≤ 40 years being more affected than those ≥ 71 years (anxiety 24.6% vs. 9%; depression 19.6% vs. 15.3%; p <0.001). Logistic regression analysis found no association with risk factors and/or cardiovascular disease. However, anxiety and depression were associated with risk behaviors: sedentary lifestyle, increased smoking and use of psychotropic drugs. In conclusion, the increase in the prevalence of anxiety and/or depression could be due to the prolonged implementation of ASPO. The age group of young adults (≤ 40 years) was the one most affected.