Depression, anxiety and resilience during COVID-19 in Dutch patients
with Cystic Fibrosis or Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia and their caregivers
Abstract
Background. The COVID-19 pandemic has spread across the world,
leading to government measures associated with a negative impact on
mental health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of
COVID-19 on depression, anxiety and resilience in Dutch people with
cystic fibrosis (PwCF) or primary ciliary dyskinesia (PwPCD) and their
caregivers during the pandemic. Methods. Adolescents (12-17
years), adults and caregivers of children (0-17 years) with CF or PCD
completed questionnaires on depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7) and
resilience (BRS) between September 2020 and February 2021. The
psychosocial impact of COVID-19 was measured by the Exposure and Family
Impact Survey (CEFIS) Part 2. Mixed model analyses compared PHQ-9 and
GAD-7 results to participants’ pre-pandemic scores. Results. 110
participants (10 PwCF, 31 PwPCD, 52 CF caregivers, 17 PCD caregivers)
completed questionnaires during the pandemic. Pre-pandemic outcomes were
available for 87 participants. The prevalence of symptoms of depression
and anxiety (PHQ-9 or GAD-7 scores ≥5) in PwCF and PwPCD and their
caregivers before and during the pandemic was high, with an increase in
depression in PwCF (2.75; 95%-CI: 0.82 to 4.68) and increase in anxiety
in CF caregivers (1.03; 0.09 to 1.96) during the pandemic. Resilience
was within the normal range for all groups, CEFIS scores corresponded to
a low to normal impact. Conclusion. PwCF and PwPCD and their
caregivers were at high risk of increased depression and anxiety
symptoms both before and during the pandemic, which emphasizes the
importance of mental health screening and psychological care in CF and
PCD.