Epidemiol Health.  2021;43(1):e2021045. 10.4178/epih.e2021045.

A closer look at the high burden of psychiatric disorders among healthcare workers in Egypt during the COVID-19 pandemic

• El-Qushayri AE
• Dahy A
• Reda A
• Mahmoud MA
• Mageed SA
• Kamel AMA
• Ghozy S

• KMID: 2522388
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2021045

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to examine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among Egyptian healthcare workers (HCWs) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
METHODS
Six databases were searched for relevant papers. The quality of the selected articles was measured using the National Institute of Health quality assessment tool. We used a fixed-effects model when there was no heterogeneity and a random-effects model when there was heterogeneity.
RESULTS
After screening 197 records, 10 studies were ultimately included. Anxiety was the most commonly reported psychiatric disorder among HCWs, with a prevalence of 71.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 49.4 to 86.9), followed by stress (66.6%; 95% CI, 47.6 to 81.3), depression (65.5%; 95% CI, 46.9 to 80.3), and insomnia (57.9%; 95% CI, 45.9 to 69.0). As measured using the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale, the most common level of severity was moderate for depression (22.5%; 95% CI, 19.8 to 25.5) and stress (14.5%; 95% CI, 8.8 to 22.9), while high-severity anxiety was more common than other levels of severity (28.2%; 95% CI, 3.8 to 79.6).
CONCLUSIONS
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative effect on Egyptian HCWs’ psychological well-being. More psychological support and preventive measures should be implemented to prevent the further development of psychiatric illness among physicians and other HCWs.

Keyword

COVID-19; Psychiatry; Mental health; Healthcare workers; Egypt