Comparison of the levels of depression and anxiety during the first and fourth waves of coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic in Brazil

J.G. Barbosa Junior, C.A. Barbosa de Lira, R.L. Vancini, P.J. Puccinelli, A. Seffrin, L. Vivan, V. Ribeiro dos Anjos, K. Weiss, B. Knechtle, M.S. Andrade

Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Translacional, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. beat.knechtle@hispeed.ch

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• Infectious Diseases
• Psychology

OBJECTIVE: To compare the levels of depression, anxiety, physical activity, and mobility restrictions between the first wave in June 2020 and the fourth wave in January 2022 of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Brazil.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Brazilian citizens answered a self-administered questionnaire that included questions related to personal information, mobility restriction levels, physical activity levels, and the status of mood disorders in June 2020 (n=1853) and January 2022 (n=728).

RESULTS: The levels of mobility restrictions (p<0.001), anxiety (p<0.001), and depression (p<0.001) significantly decreased from 2020 to 2022. In June 2020, 23.2% of the participants presented moderate to severe anxiety, and in January 2022, this percentage decreased to 14.8%. In June 2020, 29.6% of the participants presented moderate to severe depressive symptoms, and in January 2022 this percentage decreased to 19.3%. On the contrary, physical activity levels significantly increased between 2020 and 2022 (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: During the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, participants were less restricted and more physically active than in the first wave. Furthermore, anxiety and depression levels were significantly lower in the fourth wave than in the first wave. Despite this reduction, levels of anxiety and depression remain high; therefore, the authors suggest measures to encourage physical activity and promote mental health.

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