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. 2023 Jan 24:78:100167.
doi: 10.1016/j.clinsp.2023.100167. eCollection 2023.

Emotional, hyperactivity and inattention problems in adolescents with immunocompromising chronic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic

Reinan T Campos  1 , Livia Lindoso  1 , Renan A de Sousa  1 , Alberto C Helito  1 , Bianca P Ihara  1 , Claudia A A Strabelli  1 , Levi M V Paradelas  1 , Beatriz O L Carneiro  1 , Maria Paula R Cardoso  1 , Jean Paulo V de Souza  1 , Marianna R de M Freire  1 , Camilla Astley  1 , Moisés F Laurentino  1 , Izabel M Buscatti  1 , Katia Kozu  1 , Nadia E Aikawa  1 , Adriana M E Sallum  1 , Juliana C O Ferreira  1 , Juliana R Simon  1 , Vivianne S L Viana  1 , Ligia B Queiroz  1 , Bruno Gualano  1 , Hamilton Roschel  1 , Rosa Maria R Pereira  1 , Ricardo K Toma  1 , Andréia Watanabe  1 , Patricia M Grangeiro  1 , Caio B Casella  1 , Sylvia C Farhat  1 , Guilherme V Polanczyk  1 , Lucia Maria A Campos  1 , Clovis A Silva  2
Affiliations

Emotional, hyperactivity and inattention problems in adolescents with immunocompromising chronic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic

Reinan T Campos et al. Clinics (Sao Paulo). .

Abstract

Objective: To assess factors associated with emotional changes and Hyperactivity/Inattention (HI) motivated by COVID-19 quarantine in adolescents with immunocompromising diseases.

Methods: A cross-sectional study included 343 adolescents with immunocompromising diseases and 108 healthy adolescents. Online questionnaires were answered including socio-demographic data and self-rated healthcare routine during COVID-19 quarantine and validated surveys: Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL4.0).

Results: The frequencies of abnormal emotional SDQ scores from adolescents with chronic diseases were similar to those of healthy subjects (110/343 [32%] vs. 38/108 [35%], p = 0.548), as well as abnormal hyperactivity/inattention SDQ scores (79/343 [23%] vs. 29/108 [27%], p = 0.417). Logistic regression analysis of independent variables associated with abnormal emotional scores from adolescents with chronic diseases showed: female sex (Odds Ratio [OR = 3.76]; 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) 2.00‒7.05; p < 0.001), poor sleep quality (OR = 2.05; 95% CI 1.08‒3.88; p = 0.028) and intrafamilial violence during pandemic (OR = 2.17; 95% CI 1.12‒4.19; p = 0.021) as independently associated with abnormal emotional scores, whereas total PedsQL score was inversely associated with abnormal emotional scores (OR = 0.95; 95% CI 0.93‒0.96; p < 0.0001). Logistic regression analysis associated with abnormal HI scores from patients evidenced that total PedsQL score (OR = 0.97; 95% CI 0.95‒0.99; p = 0.010], changes in medical appointments during the pandemic (OR = 0.39; 95% CI 0.19-0.79; p = 0.021), and reliable COVID-19 information (OR = 0.35; 95% CI 0.16‒0.77; p = 0.026) remained inversely associated with abnormal HI scores.

Conclusion: The present study showed emotional and HI disturbances in adolescents with chronic immunosuppressive diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic. It reinforces the need to promptly implement a longitudinal program to protect the mental health of adolescents with and without chronic illnesses during future pandemics.

Keywords: Adolescent; COVID-19; Chronic disease; Mental health.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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