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Meta-Analysis
. 2023 Jan-Feb:80:17-25.
doi: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2022.12.002. Epub 2022 Dec 7.

Prevalence of depression in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients: An umbrella review of meta-analyses

Mario Gennaro Mazza  1 , Mariagrazia Palladini  2 , Gaia Villa  3 , Elena Agnoletto  3 , Yasmine Harrington  2 , Benedetta Vai  4 , Francesco Benedetti  4
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Prevalence of depression in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients: An umbrella review of meta-analyses

Mario Gennaro Mazza et al. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2023 Jan-Feb.

Abstract

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic is still spreading worldwide two years after its outbreak. Depression has been reported in around 30% of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. We aim to synthesize the available meta-analytical evidence in an umbrella review exploring the prevalence of depression during and after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods: First, we performed a narrative umbrella review including only meta-analyses providing a quantitative summary of the prevalence of depression during or after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Then we extracted the prevalence and sample size from the original studies included in each meta-analysis, and after removing duplicate studies, we performed a random-effects model meta-analysis based on single original study estimates. Heterogeneity, publication bias, leave-one-out sensitivity, and subgroup analyses were performed.

Results: 14 meta-analyses were included in the umbrella review. The prevalence of depression ranged from 12% to 55% in the presence of high heterogeneity. The meta-analysis based on 85 original studies derived from the included 14 meta-analyses showed a pooled prevalence of depression of 31% (95% CI:25-38%) in the presence of high and significant heterogeneity (Q = 8988; p < 10-6; I2 = 99%) and publication bias (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: The burden of post-COVID depression substantially exceeds the pre-pandemic prevalence. Health care services for COVID-19 survivors should monitor and treat emergent depression, reducing its potential detrimental long-term effects.

Keywords: COVID-19; Depression; Mental health; Meta-analysis; SARS-CoV-2; Systematic review.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest None.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA 2020 flow diagram for the selection process.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Forest plot of depression prevalence in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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