Psychological impact of the covid 19 pandemic on health care workers

INTRODUCTION: The COVID 19 pandemic had a significant psychological impact worldwide. Health care workers (HCWs) were the most affected because of the pandemic burden and occupational exigencies. OBJECTIVES: To describe epidemiological characteristics of HCWs with post COVID19 anxiodepressive disorders. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out. It included HCWs of a university hospital who consulted the Occupational Medicine Clinics for the three-month post-COVID‘s medical visit. The study was carried out during the period March 2020 to January 2022. The data was collected using a questionnaire including socio-occupational and medical characteristics. Psychometric evaluation was carried out using « the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale » RESULTS: We have collected 164 HCWs. The sex ratio (M/F) was 0.29. The average age was 41±9.8 years. They belonged to the pneumology (27%), intensive care (11%) and biology laboratory (11%). The prevalence of anxiety and depression was 34% and 30% respectively. We found an association between sleep disorders and anxiety (p=0.000), OR=5 IC95%[2.4-10.3] and depression (p=0.000), OR= 4 IC 95%[2.0-9.3]. We found an association between anxiety and persistent fatigue (p=0,000), OR=4[2,0-8,6], anxiety and concentration and memory difficulties (p=0,000), OR=3 IC 95%[1,7-6,9]. Referral to psychiatric consultations were done in 16% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: Post-COVID anxiety disorders were frequent among HCWs and associated with neurocognitive disorders. Psychiatric support and early treatment are necessary to prevent mental deterioration. DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST: None Declared