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Meta-Analysis
. 2021 Dec:131:912-922.
doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.10.010. Epub 2021 Oct 13.

Some of us are most at risk: Systematic review and meta-analysis of correlates of depressive symptoms among healthcare workers during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak

Cristina Crocamo  1 , Bianca Bachi  2 , Angela Calabrese  2 , Tommaso Callovini  2 , Daniele Cavaleri  2 , Riccardo M Cioni  2 , Federico Moretti  2 , Francesco Bartoli  2 , Giuseppe Carrà  3
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Some of us are most at risk: Systematic review and meta-analysis of correlates of depressive symptoms among healthcare workers during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak

Cristina Crocamo et al. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2021 Dec.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe psychosocial impact on healthcare workers (HCWs). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed at evaluating the association between individual features and depressive symptoms reported by HCWs during the pandemic. We searched Medline, Embase, and PsycInfo up to 23 June 2020. We included cross-sectional studies testing the association between individual correlates and depressive symptoms in HCWs during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. Fourteen studies met inclusion criteria, involving 14,173 HCWs (3,070 with depressive symptoms). Women (OR = 1.50; 95 %CI: 1.28-1.76; I2 = 40.0 %), individuals with suspected/confirmed COVID-19 (OR = 2.10; 95 %CI: 1.64-2.69; I2 = 0 %), and those with an infected family member or friend (OR = 1.67; 95 %CI: 1.37-2.04; I2 = 0%) were more likely to report depressive features, which, instead, were less frequent among doctors (compared with nurses) (OR = 0.80; 95 %CI: 0.66-0.98; I2 = 48.2 %) and HCWs who felt adequately protected (OR = 0.48; 95 %CI: 0.32-0.72; I2 = 36.3 %). Our study provided timely evidence on the correlates of depressive symptoms among HCWs during the pandemic. Early screening is crucial to develop tailored health interventions, redesigning the response to COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; Correlates; Depression; Healthcare workers; Meta-analysis; SARS-CoV-2.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart of the selection process.
Fig. A1
Fig. A1
Association between depressive symptoms and being a doctor as compared with being a nurse.
Fig. A2
Fig. A2
Association between depressive symptoms and being a doctor as compared with other HCWs.
Fig. A3
Fig. A3
Association between depressive symptoms and being a frontline HCW.
Fig. A4
Fig. A4
Association between depressive symptoms and feeling to have adequate protection.
Fig. A5
Fig. A5
Association between depressive symptoms and age (continuous).
Fig. A6
Fig. A6
Association between depressive symptoms and age <40 years old.
Fig. A7
Fig. A7
Association between depressive symptoms and gender.
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Fig. A8
Association between depressive symptoms and being married.
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Fig. A9
Association between depressive symptoms and having children.
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Fig. A10
Association between depressive symptoms and being infected or a suspected case.
Fig. A11
Fig. A11
Association between depressive symptoms and having a family member or a friend infected.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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