Covid-19 is associated with an increased risk of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, substance misuse and sleep disorders, up to one year after initial infection, research suggests.
The findings come days after an Age UK report proclaimed a hidden mental crisis among the elderly, and indicate that tackling psychiatric illness among Covid patients should be prioritised.
The US study, published by The BMJ on Wednesday, is the first comprehensive assessment of the mental health manifestations of Covid one year after infection.
Researchers used data from the US Department of Veterans Affairs national healthcare databases to estimate the risks of poor mental health outcomes in people who survived at least 30 days after a positive PCR test result between March 2020 and January 2021.
They identified data for 153,848 people and matched them to two control groups with no history of Covid-19.
Participants were mostly white men with an average age of 63 years.
The Covid-19 group was further divided into those who were or were not admitted to hospital during the acute phase of infection, and information was collected on potentially influential factors including age, race, sex, lifestyle and medical history.
The researchers then followed all three groups for one year to estimate the risks of a set of specified mental health outcomes, including anxiety, depression and stress disorders, substance misuse, sleep disorders and neurocognitive decline.
Compared with the non-infected control group, people with Covid-19 showed a 60 per cent higher risk of any mental health diagnosis or prescription at one year, equivalent to an additional 64 per 1,000 people.
When the researchers examined mental health disorders separately, they found that Covid-19 was associated with an additional 24 per 1,000 people with sleep disorders at one year, 15 per 1,000 with depressive disorders, 11 per 1,000 with neurocognitive decline and 4 per 1,000 with any non-opioid substance use disorders.
The risks were highest in people admitted to hospital during the initial, acute phase of Covid-19, but were evident even among those who were not admitted to hospital.
People with Covid-19 also showed higher risks of mental health disorders than people with seasonal influenza.
Taking stock, it could be argued that much of the research concerned with the mental health impacts of Covid-19 represents more hindsight than insight
Prof Scott Weich
The same held true for hospital admissions. Those admitted to hospital with Covid-19 showed increased risk of mental health disorders compared with those in hospital for any other reason.
We now have a clearer picture of the mental health impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, said Scott Weich, professor of mental health at the University of Sheffield.
He said for the general population, Covid and lockdown caused transient distress – related to threat – and those who contracted the virus were at moderately increased risk of anxiety and depression for the first six months or so, with the risk greatest in the first month.
“Taking stock, it could be argued that much of the research concerned with the mental health impacts of Covid-19 represents more hindsight than insight,” he said.
He believes the focus must now be placed on advancing our understanding of the causes of mental illness and undertaking research that evaluates treatments for psychiatric disorders generally.
The study authors said the report is observational and did not identify cause, and that some misclassification bias may have occurred. Because the study included mostly older white men, the results may not apply to other groups, they said.
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iPhone XS Max
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iPhone XR
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Apple Watch Series 4
More comprehensive health device with edge-to-edge displays that are more than 30 per cent bigger than displays on current models.
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Director: Jared Hess
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South Africa squad
: Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen (wkt), Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Duanne Olivier, Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada.
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If you go...
Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).
Most F1 world titles
7 — Michael Schumacher (1994, ’95, 2000, ’01 ’02, ’03, ’04)
7 — Lewis Hamilton (2008, ’14,’15, ’17, ’18, ’19, ’20)
5 — Juan Manuel Fangio (1951, ’54, ’55, ’56, ’57)
4 — Alain Prost (1985, ’86, ’89, ’93)
4 — Sebastian Vettel (2010, ’11, ’12, ’13)
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
UAE Premiership
Results
Dubai Exiles 24-28 Jebel Ali Dragons
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 43-27 Dubai Hurricanes
Fixture
Friday, March 29, Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons, The Sevens, Dubai
Elvis
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DUBAI CARNIVAL RESULTS
6.30pm Handicap US$135,000 (Turf) 2,410m
Winner Dubai Future, Harry Bentley (jockey), Saeed bin Suroor (trainer).
7.05pm UAE 1000 Guineas Listed $250,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner Dubai Love, Patrick Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.
7.40pm Dubai Dash Listed $175,000 (T) 1,000m
Winner: Equilateral, James Doyle, Charles Hills.
8.15pm Al Bastakiya Trial Conditions $100,000 (D) 1.900m
Winner Laser Show, Kevin Stott, Saeed bin Suroor.
8.50pm Al Fahidi Fort Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Glorious Journey, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
9.25pm Handicap $135,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner George Villiers, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Day 3, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage, the Sri Lanka pace bowler, has had to play a lot of cricket to earn a shot at the top level. The 29-year-old debutant first played a first-class game 11 years ago. His first Test wicket was one to savour, bowling Pakistan opener Shan Masood through the gate. It set the rot in motion for Pakistan’s batting.
Stat of the day – 73 Haris Sohail took 73 balls to hit a boundary. Which is a peculiar quirk, given the aggressive intent he showed from the off. Pakistan’s batsmen were implored to attack Rangana Herath after their implosion against his left-arm spin in Abu Dhabi. Haris did his best to oblige, smacking the second ball he faced for a huge straight six.
The verdict One year ago, when Pakistan played their first day-night Test at this ground, they held a 222-run lead over West Indies on first innings. The away side still pushed their hosts relatively close on the final night. With the opposite almost exactly the case this time around, Pakistan still have to hope they can salvage a win from somewhere.
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