EVALUATION OF ANXIETY FOR FIRST AND SECOND TRIMESTER PREGNANT WOMEN INFECTED WITH COVID-19. A CLINICAL STUDY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22551/1f6xdz36Abstract
Aims: During the COVID-19 epidemic, a widespread worsening in mental health was recorded. This study aimed to assess the psychological impact on mothers and to quantify the percentage of Romanian women infected with SARS-CoV-2 during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy who exhibited clinically significant anxiety symptoms (GAD-7 score > 10) and their associated concerns. Materials and methods: Between July 1st, 2021, and March 31st, 2022, 45 patients with a confirmed mild or moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection and a pregnancy less than 24 weeks of gestation were admitted to the 2nd Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the “Sf. Apostol Andrei” Clinical Emergency County Hospital Galați for treatment and investigations. Data collection was accomplished through the development of a questionnaire that comprised fourteen items. The clinical data and GAD-7 anxiety score were subsequently analyzed. Results: For 23 patients (51.11%), the GAD-7 score ranged from 0 to 4, indicating low anxiety. Conversely, in 4 patients (8.88%), the GAD-7 score ranged from 10 to 14, indicating moderate anxiety, while in 3 cases (6.66%), the GAD-7 score was 15, indicative of severe anxiety. Conclusions: Despite the large amount of literature on anxiety-depressive disorders during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester and postpartum, there is a lack of studies focusing on the mental health of pregnant women diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly in the first trimester. This is especially significant considering the limited understanding of the relationship between the adverse effects of viral infection on pregnancy and maternal-fetal outcomes.
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