Depression in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Depression affected 5.7% of people aged 60 years and over prior to the pandemic and has increased by approximately 28%. The aim of this study is to identify and describe factors associated with depressive symptoms, the diagnostic assessment instruments and interventions used to evaluate and treat depression in adults aged 60 years and older since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Four electronic databases were systematically searched to identify eligible studies published since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 832 articles were screened, of which 53 met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS: Factors contributing to depressive symptoms in older adults prior to the pandemic were grouped into the following categories: sociodemographic characteristics (i.e., being female); loneliness and weak social support; limitations in daily functioning, physical activity and neurocognitive impairment; and clinical factors. The following groups of factors directly related to the pandemic were found: stress-related factors and feelings or worries related to the pandemic; information access (e.g., receiving news about COVID-19 through the media); factors directly related to COVID-19 (e.g., having infected acquaintances); and factors related to the measures that were taken to reduce the spread of COVID-19 (e.g., confinement measures). The most frequently used instrument to assess depressive symptoms was the Geriatric Depression Scale Short Form (GDS-SF). Four studies implemented interventions during the pandemic that led to significant reductions in depressive symptoms and feelings of loneliness. CONCLUSIONS: Improved understanding of pandemic-associated risk factors for depression can inform person-cantered care. It is important continued mental healthcare for depression for older adults throughout crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote delivery of mental healthcare represents an important alternative during such times. It is crucial to address depression in older adults (which often causes disability), since the pandemic situation has increased depressive symptoms in this population.

Depression in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Depression is a common mental disorder and is a major cause of years lived with disability. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused an increase in the prevalence of depression worldwide. Our aim is to identify and synthesise the determinants of depression, the diagnostic assessment tools used to evaluate depression, and the interventions carried out since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in the population aged 60 and older. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A systematic review of the literature will be conducted. The following databases will be searched: CINAHL Plus with Full Text, MedicLatina, MEDLINE with Full Text, and Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection. The search strategy will include the following Medical Subject Headings or similar terms: "Depression", "Depressive Disorder", "Depressive Symptoms", "Older Adults", "Aging", "Elderly", Pandemic" and "COVID-19". Two independent reviewers will ascertain whether the resulting articles meet inclusion and exclusion criteria, and perform the analysis of data quality. Disagreements will be resolved by a third reviewer. All studies reported between December 2019 and March 2022 meeting the following criteria will be included: studies in adults aged 60 and over, and articles written in English, Portuguese, Spanish or German. Information on determinants of depression, assessment instruments used to assess depressive symptoms and/or interventions to decrease depression are reported. Studies will not be excluded based on geographical area study context (eg, community, culture or specific environment). All studies related to diagnostic assessment, care planning and/or intervention strategies specifically for older adults with depression will be included. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: As only secondary data will be analysed, no ethical approval is required for this study. This scientific article is a systematic review protocol for which data have not yet been extracted or analysed. The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42022299775.

Strategies Adopted by Addiction Facilities during the Coronavirus Pandemic to Support Treatment for Individuals in Recovery or Struggling with a Substance Use Disorder: A Scoping Review.

This review aimed to identify and synthesize strategies and actions adopted by addiction facilities to support and maintain treatment during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A scoping review was conducted using the following information sources: Virtual Health Library, SCOPUS, Web of Science, PubMed, CINAHL, and Latin American and Caribbean Health Science Literature. From a total of 971 articles, 28 studies were included. The strategies to maintain the care offer were telehealth/telemedicine, counselling/screening, 24-h telephone, webinars, conducting group therapy and support among users, adaptation for electronic health records, increased methadone/naloxone dispensing, restriction in the number of medication dispensing/day, and electronic prescription and home delivery medications. These strategies can be used to support health professionals in addressing the impact of the pandemic on the treatment of those in recovery or struggling with a substance use disorder when in-person treatment is not possible.

Healthcare system capacity of the municipalities in the State of Rio de Janeiro: infrastructure to confront COVID-19

Considering the growing number of cases requiring emergency care as a result of SARS-CoV-2 in the Brazilian State of Rio de Janeiro, this study focuses on mapping the health infrastructure of the municipalities of the state, comparing the Structure Efficiency Index (IEE) before (2016) and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The article fills a gap in the academic literature, informing public health policies specialists and technicians, as well as policy and decision-makers, about the capacity of municipalities to face the problem. We calculated the Structure Efficiency Index (IEE) of the states’ 92 municipalities and positioned them on the pandemic curve. It was possible to verify that the government of the State of Rio de Janeiro needs to start acting to suppress COVID-19, maintaining the policy of providing more hospital beds, and purchasing equipment. However, it is also necessary to consider the particularities and deficiencies of each region, as the policy to transfer patients to places with available beds can contribute to the spread of the disease.Alternate abstract: Considerando um número crescente de casos de atendimento de emergência, provenientes do SARS-CoV-2, no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, o presente estudo se concentra no mapeamento da infraestrutura de saúde nos municípios do Estado, comparando o Índice de Eficiência em Estrutura antes (2016) e após a pandemia da COVID-19. O artigo preenche uma lacuna acadêmica ao informar aos especialistas, técnicos, formuladores e tomadores de decisão de políticas públicas de saúde, sobre a capacidade de cada localidade para enfrentar o problema. Para isso, calculamos o Índice de Eficiência da Estrutura (IEE), alocando os 92 municípios do Estado na curva de pandemia. Foi possível verificar que o Governo do Estado do Rio de Janeiro precisa começar a atuar na supressão da COVID-19, mantendo a política de abertura, ou reabertura, de leitos e aquisição de equipamentos. No entanto, também é necessário considerar as particularidades e deficiências de cada região, pois a política de transferência dos acamados para outras regiões com leitos disponíveis pode espalhar a doença.Alternate abstract: Considerando el número creciente de casos de atención de emergencia procedentes del SARS-CoV-2, en el estado de Río de Janeiro, este estudio se centra en el mapeo de la infraestructura de salud en los municipios de dicho estado, con el fin de informar a los especialistas, técnicos, formuladores y tomadores de decisiones de políticas de salud pública sobre la capacidad de cada localidad para enfrentar el problema. Para esto, calculamos el índice de eficiencia de estructura (IEE) colocando los 92 municipios del estado en la curva de la pandemia. Se pudo verificar que el Gobierno del Estado de Río de Janeiro debe comenzar a actuar para suprimir la COVID-19 manteniendo la política de apertura o reapertura de camas y adquisición de equipos. Sin embargo, también se deben considerar las particularidades y deficiencias de cada región, ya que la política de traslado de pacientes postrados a otras regiones con camas disponibles puede propagar la enfermedad.

Capacidade do sistema de saúde nos municípios do Rio de Janeiro: infraestrutura para enfrentar a COVID-19

Considerando um número crescente de casos de atendimento de emergência, provenientes do SARS-CoV-2, no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, o presente estudo se concentra no mapeamento da infraestrutura de saúde nos municípios do Estado, comparando o Índice de Eficiência em Estrutura antes (2016) e após a pandemia da COVID-19. O artigo preenche uma lacuna acadêmica ao informar aos especialistas, técnicos, formuladores e tomadores de decisão de políticas públicas de saúde, sobre a capacidade de cada localidade para enfrentar o problema. Para isso, calculamos o Índice de Eficiência da Estrutura (IEE), alocando os 92 municípios do Estado na curva de pandemia. Foi possível verificar que o Governo do Estado do Rio de Janeiro precisa começar a atuar na supressão da COVID-19, mantendo a política de abertura, ou reabertura, de leitos e aquisição de equipamentos. No entanto, também é necessário considerar as particularidades e deficiências de cada região, pois a política de transferência dos acamados para outras regiões com leitos disponíveis pode espalhar a doença.Alternate abstract: Considering the growing number of cases requiring emergency care as a result of SARS-CoV-2 in the Brazilian State of Rio de Janeiro, this study focuses on mapping the health infrastructure of the municipalities of the state, comparing the Structure Efficiency Index (IEE) before (2016) and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The article fills a gap in the academic literature, informing public health policies specialists and technicians, as well as policy and decision-makers, about the capacity of municipalities to face the problem. We calculated the Structure Efficiency Index (IEE) of the states’ 92 municipalities and positioned them on the pandemic curve. It was possible to verify that the government of the State of Rio de Janeiro needs to start acting to suppress COVID-19, maintaining the policy of providing more hospital beds, and purchasing equipment. However, it is also necessary to consider the particularities and deficiencies of each region, as the policy to transfer patients to places with available beds can contribute to the spread of the disease.Alternate abstract: Considerando el número creciente de casos de atención de emergencia procedentes del SARS-CoV-2, en el estado de Río de Janeiro, este estudio se centra en el mapeo de la infraestructura de salud en los municipios de dicho estado, con el fin de informar a los especialistas, técnicos, formuladores y tomadores de decisiones de políticas de salud pública sobre la capacidad de cada localidad para enfrentar el problema. Para esto, calculamos el índice de eficiencia de estructura (IEE) colocando los 92 municipios del estado en la curva de la pandemia. Se pudo verificar que el Gobierno del Estado de Río de Janeiro debe comenzar a actuar para suprimir la COVID-19 manteniendo la política de apertura o reapertura de camas y adquisición de equipos. Sin embargo, también se deben considerar las particularidades y deficiencias de cada región, ya que la política de traslado de pacientes postrados a otras regiones con camas disponibles puede propagar la enfermedad.