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Meta-Analysis
. 2021 Feb 23;18(4):2182.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18042182.

Prevalence and Determinants of Immediate and Long-Term PTSD Consequences of Coronavirus-Related (CoV-1 and CoV-2) Pandemics among Healthcare Professionals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Buthaina Al Falasi  1 , Mouza Al Mazrouei  1 , Mai Al Ali  1 , Maithah Al Dhamani  1 , Aisha Al Ali  1 , Mariam Al Kindi  1 , Murat Dalkilinc  1 , Mai Al Qubaisi  1 , Luciana Aparecida Campos  2   3   4 , Hashel Al Tunaiji  1 , Ovidiu Constantin Baltatu  3   4   5
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Prevalence and Determinants of Immediate and Long-Term PTSD Consequences of Coronavirus-Related (CoV-1 and CoV-2) Pandemics among Healthcare Professionals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Buthaina Al Falasi et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to rise. In order to control the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare professionals have been subjected to increased exposure to work stress. In this systematic review, we aimed at investigating the prevalence and determinants of immediate and long-term post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) effects on healthcare professionals by the COVID-19 (SARS CoV-2) and SARS-2003 (SARS CoV-1) pandemics.

Methods: This systematic review was conducted according to the recommendations of the Protocols for Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. Only studies reporting the prevalence of PTSD (frequency, percentage) and related risk factors (adjusted odds ratio (OR)) in healthcare professionals (HCPs) during the SARS CoV-2 and SARS CoV-1 pandemics were included. The following databases were screened: Medline, Embase, PsychINFO, and Health Psychosocial Instrument (HaPI).

Results: Six of eight studies reported PTSD symptoms among healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in China (three), Singapore (one), India (one), and the United States of America (USA) (two), while two studies reported symptoms during the SARS-2003 pandemic in China (one) and Singapore (one). Sample sizes ranged from 263 to 5062 with a combined total of 10,074 participants. All of the studies self-reported the level of exposure to coronaviruses (CoV-1 and CoV-2) and severity of PTSD. Seven studies reported the prevalence of immediate PTSD and determinants, while one study reported delayed-onset PTSD (3 years after CoV-1 pandemic). Determinants of immediate PTSD were reported for the CoV-2 pandemic, while those for long-term PTSD were reported for the CoV-1 pandemic.

Conclusions: A comprehensive understanding of the prevalence and determinants of immediate or long-term pandemic PTSD for healthcare workers can improve prevention, diagnosis, and management. Rigorous research measuring the prevalence of PTSD and its associated risk factors (adjusted OR) for the CoV-2 pandemic are envisaged. Although strategies to resolve immediate PTSD are key, long-term PTSD must not be overlooked.

Keywords: coronavirus; health personnel; immediate and long-term PTSD; odds ratio; risk factors; stress disorders.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors do not declare any commercial or financial conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram showing study selection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related to coronavirus (CoV-1 and CoV-2) pandemics among healthcare professionals (HCPs).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Determinants of acute and long-term PTSD.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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