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. 2021 Oct 1:293:391-398.
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.06.073. Epub 2021 Jul 2.

A systematic review of the prevalence of anxiety among the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic

Fatemeh Pashazadeh Kan  1 , Samira Raoofi  2 , Sima Rafiei  3 , Saghar Khani  4 , Hossein Hosseinifard  5 , Fatemeh Tajik  6 , Neda Raoofi  7 , Saba Ahmadi  8 , Sepideh Aghalou  9 , Fatemeh Torabi  2 , Afsaneh Dehnad  10 , Sepide Rezaei  2 , Zahra Hosseinipalangi  8 , Ahmad Ghashghaee  11
Affiliations

A systematic review of the prevalence of anxiety among the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic

Fatemeh Pashazadeh Kan et al. J Affect Disord. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had an adverse effect on the mental health of population worldwide. This study was conducted to systematically review the existing literature to identify the individuals at higher risk of anxiety with a view to provide targeted mental health services during this outbreak.

Methods: In this study, the studies focusing on anxiety prevalence among the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic were searched in the PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science (WoS) and Google Scholar from the beginning of Covid-19 pandemic to February 2021.

Results: 103 studies constituting 140732 people included in the review. The findings showed that anxiety prevalence was 27.3% (95% CI, 23.7%; 31.2%) among general population while the prevalence in COVID-19 patients was 39.6% (95% CI, 30.1%; 50.1%). Anxiety was significantly higher among females and older adults (p≤0.05). In addition Europe revealed the highest prevalence of anxiety 54.6% (95% CI, 42.5%; 66.2%) followed by America 31.5% (95% CI, 19%; 47.5%) and Asia 28.3% (95% CI, 20.3%; 38%). In the general population the highest prevalence of anxiety was in Africa 61.8% (95% CI, 57%-66.4%) followed by America 34.9% (95% CI, 27.7%-42.9%), Europe 30.7% (95% CI, 22.8%-40%) and Asia 24.5% (95% CI, 20.7%-28.9%).

Conclusion: During the COVID-19 crisis, through identifying those who are more likely to be suffered from mental disorders at different layers of populations, it would be possible to apply appropriate supportive interventions with a view to provide targeted mental health services during the outbreak.

Keywords: Anxiety; Covid-19; Meta-analysis; People; Systematic review.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig. 1
Figure 1. Flow diagram of the review process (PRISMA)
Fig 2
Fig. 2
Prevalence of anxiety among people with and without Covid-19.
Fig 3
Fig. 3
Prevalence of anxiety among with Covid-19 based on gender.
Fig 4
Fig. 4
Meta-regression in people with and without Covid-19 based on age.
Fig 5
Fig. 5
Prevalence of Anxiety in People without Covid-19 based on gender.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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