Middle East Current Psychiatry (Mar 2021)

Post-traumatic stress symptoms among an Egyptian sample of post-remission COVID-19 survivors: prevalence and sociodemographic and clinical correlates

  • Mohamed Abdelghani,
  • Mervat S. Hassan,
  • Maha E. Alsadik,
  • Ahmed A. Abdelmoaty,
  • Amira Said,
  • Samar A. Atwa

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s43045-021-00102-y
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 28, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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Abstract Background Given its global spread, the COVID-19 virus infection itself may be experienced as a traumatic and stressful event among survivors. The post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) among those surviving the disease were under evaluated. This study aimed to identify and compare PTSS and associated correlates among COVID-19 survivors and control subjects. A cross-sectional design with a convenience sampling included a total of 85 adults who survived COVID-19 virus infection and 85 control subjects (matched for age, sex, education, and socioeconomic level) who were recruited from Zagazig University Hospitals, Sharkia Province, Egypt. The participants were interviewed using a semistructured demographic and clinical checklist, Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 Axis I Disorders (SCID-5), the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS). Results Approximately, 72% of COVID-19 survivors experienced moderate-to-severe PTSS (compared to 53% of control subjects). Individuals who survived the COVID-19 virus infection were more likely to have intensified hyperarousal symptoms (OR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.7–4.4), with higher total IES-R scoring (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01–1.05). Among COVID-19 survivors, those who reported moderate-to-severe PTSS were likely to experience severe COVID-19 symptoms during their illness (OR: 4.1, 95% CI: 1.4–11.9). Conclusions PTSS was prevalent among COVID-19 survivors in Egypt. The hyperarousal symptoms were the most experienced ones. The symptom severity of COVID-19 virus infection predicted PTSS in COVID-19 survivors.

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