Rates of insomnia and depression in people infected with Covid-19
Cases of Covid-19 infection had a 41% higher risk of sleep disorders and 39% higher risk of depression compared to the average rate in the group without the disease.
The study, published in the British Medical Journal, was based on data from 153,000 veterans who had recovered from Covid-19. The survey focused on mental health issues.
Within a year of being infected with Covid-19, 2.3% of people who recovered were diagnosed with sleep-related disorders. Compared to people who did not have Covid-19, this condition increased to 41%.
The survey found that people who have had Covid-19 are 39% more likely to suffer from depression and 35% more likely to suffer from anxiety. The mental health effects of Covid-19 can be long-lasting.
“The long-term post-Covid-19 problem is chronic diseases that leave damage to people for life,” said Ziyad Al-Aly, one of the study authors.
Mr. Al-Aly is the head of the Department of Research and Education at the St. Louis Veterans Affairs Health Care System (USA).
“While we all suffer mental distress during the pandemic, those who contracted Covid-19 have had a much worse experience. They are experiencing mental health problems up to a year after infection,” said Al-Aly.
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| Illustration photo: Indianexpress |
Rate of patientspost Covid-19use sleeping pills 63% more, abuse painkillers 34% more than others.
However, the authors caution that the data may not be consistent across a larger population. The survey subjects included men, with a median age of 63, who contracted Covid-19 more than a year ago, so very few had been vaccinated.
Scientists are racing to understand whether the SARS-CoV-2 virus can directly affect the brain. Some fear that Covid-19 infection may cause inflammation and contribute to symptoms of mental disorders.
“Inflammatory markers can disrupt brain function in a number of ways, including the brain’s ability to produce serotonin, which impacts mood and sleep,” said Maura Boldrini, MD, professor of psychiatry at New York-Presbyterian Columbia University School of Medicine.
The increased risk of mental illness in people with Covid-19 could be due to a combination of biological factors and psychological stress, Professor Boldrini added.
