COVID-19 and Mental Health: A "Pandemic Within a Pandemic".

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant changes in daily life for humanity and has had a profound impact on mental health. As widely acknowledged, the pandemic has led to notable increases in rates of anxiety, depression, distress, and other mental health-related issues, affecting both infected patients and non-infected individuals. COVID-19 patients and survivors face heightened risks for various neurological and psychiatric disorders and complications. Vulnerable populations, including those with pre-existing mental health conditions and individuals living in poverty or frailty, may encounter additional challenges. Tragically, suicide rates have also risen, particularly among young people, due to factors such as unemployment, financial crises, domestic violence, substance abuse, and social isolation. Efforts are underway to address these mental health issues, with healthcare professionals urged to regularly screen both COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 patients and survivors for psychological distress, ensuring rapid and appropriate interventions. Ongoing periodic follow-up and multidimensional, interdisciplinary approaches are essential for individuals experiencing long-term psychiatric sequelae. Preventive strategies must be developed to mitigate mental health problems during both the acute and recovery phases of COVID-19 infection. Vaccination efforts continue to prioritize vulnerable populations, including those with mental health conditions, to prevent future complications. Given the profound implications of mental health problems, including shorter life expectancy, diminished quality of life, heightened distress among caregivers, and substantial economic burden, it is imperative that political and health authorities prioritize the mental well-being of all individuals affected by COVID-19, including infected individuals, non-infected individuals, survivors, and caregivers.

Loss of socioemotional and occupational roles in individuals with Long COVID according to sociodemographic and clinical factors: Secondary data from a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Long COVID syndrome can have a major impact on life organization. Its persistent symptoms may cause a potentially disabling condition that affects the quality of life of those suffering from it. The resulting loss of functional independence hinders the ability to return to normal life. Many research studies carried out on this novel syndrome have focused on describing its extensive symptomatology. Studies on later repercussions, however, such as disability or loss of significant roles, remain scarce. This study examines the loss of socioemotional and occupational roles experienced by individuals suffering from Long COVID, as a result of the disease. A secondary objective is to analyze the sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with this loss of roles. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with the participation of 100 patients diagnosed with Long COVID, over the age of 18, and attended by Primary Health Care in the Autonomous Community of Aragon. The main study variable was the loss of significant socioemotional and occupational roles by the participants. Sociodemographic and clinical data were also collected through a structured interview. Subsequently, a descriptive, correlational, and regression-based statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS Statistics program. RESULTS: Based on the 100 study participants, the median number of roles lost was 3 (IQR 2) and the median number of valuable roles lost was 2 (IQR 2). More cognitive impairment and not having an active work role were predictors of a greater loss of valuables roles. CONCLUSION: Long COVID symptoms hinder the development of socioemotional and occupational roles. Healthcare professionals should consider this when intervening to ensure that their patients may recover their life as it was before the disease.

[Rehabilitation for Post-COVID Syndrome covered by the German Pension Insurance in 2021]. / Rehabilitationen bei Post-COVID-Syndrom der Deutschen Rentenversicherung 2021.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The present work is intended to give an overview of rehabilitation of patients with post COVID-19 condition covered by the German Pension Insurance in 2021. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of medical rehabilitation completed in 2021, in which COVID-19 sequelae were coded in first or second place in the uniform discharge report according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems was carried out. The codes U08(.9), U09(.9) and U10(.9) as well as the corresponding codes from 2020 were taken into the evaluation as COVID-19-related diseases. Children's rehabilitation and oncological rehabilitation for pensioners and their relatives were excluded. Statistically, relative and absolute frequencies are given for nominal and ordinal variables, and median and quartiles for continuous, skewed distributed variables. RESULTS: 9,666 rehabilitations with one of the codes mentioned in first or second place remained. 54.8% of the patients were women and 43.2% men. The median age was 54 and 55 years (women/men). In all, 64.4% of the rehabilitations were carried out in the pulmonary medicine department. Owing to somatic indications, almost 50% of these patients in rehabilitation remained in the clinic beyond the regular approval period. The most common other diagnoses were diseases of the respiratory system. In 80.7% of those affected, the treating physicians considered the post-COVID-19 condition-associated symptoms as improved through rehabilitation. Furthermore, employment was subject to social security contributions for 88.0% of these patients, and 30.5% were employed in the fields of health, social affairs, teaching, and education. Of those affected, 63.8% were on sick leave when they were admitted, 63.0% when they were discharged. With regard to performance in the last job or on the general job market, over 90.0% received a prognosis for 6 hours and more. CONCLUSION: The importance of post-COVID-19 condition in the context of medical rehabilitation increased significantly over the course of 2021. The disease causes long periods of disability. With regard to performance, the available analyses give a positive picture; only 6.5% of those individuals undergoing rehabilitation were assessed as having a reduced capacity to earn of less than 3 hours on the general labor market.

Study Shows Businesses Selling Unapproved Stem Cell Treatments Have Turned to Long COVID.

This Medical News article discusses a new study that identified how business have pivoted marketing of unapproved stem cell and exosome products from COVID-19 to long COVID.

Long COVID Linked With Unemployment in New Analysis.

This Medical News article discusses new research on the association between long COVID and employment status.