The impact of healthcare setting on post-COVID mood disorders: a single-centre perspective from Southern Italy Respiratory Intensive Care Unit

Andrea Portacci; Vitaliano Nicola Quaranta; Ilaria Iorillo; Enrico Buonamico; Fabrizio Diaferia; Sara Quaranta; Cristian Locorotondo; Silvano Dragonieri; Giovanna Elisiana Carpagnano

doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2022.107006

The impact of healthcare setting on post-COVID mood disorders: a single-centre perspective from Southern Italy Respiratory Intensive Care Unit

Respir Med. 2022 Nov:203:107006. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2022.107006. Epub 2022 Oct 2.

Authors

Andrea Portacci¹, Vitaliano Nicola Quaranta², Ilaria Iorillo³, Enrico Buonamico⁴, Fabrizio Diaferia⁵, Sara Quaranta⁶, Cristian Locorotondo⁷, Silvano Dragonieri⁸, Giovanna Elisiana Carpagnano⁹

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Respiratory Disease, Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy. Electronic address: a.portacci01@gmail.com.
² Respiratory Disease Department, "Di Venere" Hospital, Bari, Italy. Electronic address: vitalianonicola.40@gmail.com.
³ Institute of Respiratory Disease, Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy. Electronic address: iorillo.ilaria@gmail.com.
⁴ Institute of Respiratory Disease, Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy. Electronic address: enricobuonamico@gmail.com.
⁵ Respiratory Disease Department, "Di Venere" Hospital, Bari, Italy. Electronic address: fabrizio.diaferia@gmail.com.
⁶ Institute of Respiratory Disease, Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy. Electronic address: sara.quaranta.02@gmail.com.
⁷ Institute of Respiratory Disease, Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy. Electronic address: cr.locorotondo@gmail.com.
⁸ Institute of Respiratory Disease, Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy. Electronic address: silvano.dragonieri@uniba.it.
⁹ Institute of Respiratory Disease, Department of Basic Medical Science, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy. Electronic address: elisiana.carpagnano@uniba.it.

Abstract

Background and objectives: Post-COVID syndrome includes several clinical identities, with both physical and mental alterations lasting several months from the acute phase of COVID-19 disease. However, to date, data concerning the relationship between healthcare settings during COVID-19 disease and post-COVID mood disorders are lacking.

Methods: We performed a prospective study enrolling 440 patients with post-COVID syndrome. Each patient underwent a complete clinical evaluation, along with blood and functional tests. Patients were divided according to the healthcare setting needed during COVID-19 disease.

Results: Patients admitted to RICU were more prone to develop mental alterations, even when compared to ICU-admitted patients. Other risk factors for mood disorders included female gender and some post-COVID symptoms.

Conclusions: Healthcare needs during COVID-19 can explain the higher incidence of mood disorders in post-COVID syndrome. RICU arises as an important but underexplored risk factor for post-COVID psychic sequelae.

Keywords: Healthcare setting; Long-COVID; Mood disorders; RICU; post-COVID.

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / complications
COVID-19* / epidemiology
Delivery of Health Care
Female
Humans
Intensive Care Units
Mood Disorders / epidemiology
Mood Disorders / etiology
Prospective Studies