Anxiety And Depression Among Epilepsy Patients In Low-Risk Areas For COVID-19 In The Northern Part Of Guizhou Province,China,during The COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective: To analyze the phenomenon of comorbid anxiety and depression and its associated factors in patients with epilepsy(PWE)in low-risk areas of northern Guizhou during the epidemic of COVID-19(Coronavirus disease 2019,COVID-19).Methods: An online questionnaire was conducted from 28 February 2020 to 7 March2020.The subjects included 210 epilepsy patients from the epilepsy clinic,and 200 age-and sex-matched healthy population.The survey scale was assessed using the Generalized Anxiexy Disorde-7(GAD-7)and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9(PHQ-9).Meanwhile,the two groups of respondents for novel coronavirus infection,nucleic acid detection,prognosis,route of transmission,latency,susceptible groups,transmission speed,clinical characteristics,isolation measures,disinfection measures,contact with public facilities,keep social distance,wearing masks,adequate sleep,appropriate exercise,strengthen ventilation,improve protection awareness and medical treatment of the investigation.Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 18.0software,using a statistical method of χ2 for sex,age,education,and ethnicity in general demographic information.The scores of the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scale were non-normal distributed as Median M(P25,P75)was used to indicate the concentrated trend of anxiety and depression scale scores.The Rank Sum Test was used to analyze any statistical difference in the scores and degrees between the two groups.χ2 was used to compare the correct rate of COVID-19 knowledge responses between the two groups and the Rank Sum Test to compare knowledge of COVID-19 prevention and control knowledge.The possible influence independent variables were included in the binary Logistic regression with the presence or absence of anxiety and depression as the dependent variables,and the influencing factors of anxiety and depression in epileptic patients were analyzed,and P<0.05 was statistically significant.Results:A total of 210 questionnaires were collected in the epilepsy group,including 200 cases according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and 200 cases in the healthy group.There was no significant general demographic difference in both the PWE and healthy populations(P> 0.05).For the mood levels of depression and anxiety,both the PHQ-9(P<0.01)and GAD-7(P<0.001)scores were higher for the PWE than in healthy individuals.Both PWE depression and anxiety severity were significantly higher than those in healthy populations(P <0.05,P<0.001).Scale scores were higher in epilepsy than in men(P<0.05).Epilepsy focused on the pandemic also had high depression and anxiety scores(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in anxiety and depression scores among different age groups,daily life influence group,drug use group and epilepsy group(P>0.05).In addition,PWE in cut off transmission routes such as reduce public facilities,reduce crowd gathering,after contact with high-risk groups active isolation,cough and sneezing,their own protection measures: such as going out wearing a mask,reasonable rest,do not stay up late,corresponding exercise,window ventilation,keep air flow,and temperature monitoring,medical,keep warm,avoid cold and other aspects of protective behavior are lower than healthy people(P<0.05).Two groups of respondents for the outbreak of home isolation understanding no obvious difference(P>0.05),epilepsy patients for COVID-19 infection,viral nucleic acid detection number,COVID-19 disease prognosis(most patients good prognosis,a few patients critically ill)and 75% alcohol can effectively inactivate the virus awareness accuracy is lower than healthy people(P<0.05).Two groups in the virus transmission route(mainly through respiratory droplets and contact transmission),incubation period(the disease incubation period of 1-14 days,Most of them are 3-7 days),susceptible people(people are generally prone to infection),strong transmission speed and infectious disease,and clinical characteristics(most infected people with fever,fatigue,dry cough as the main manifestations;When there is a physical fever during the epidemic period,There is no difference in the understanding that antipyretic),84 disinfectant can effectively inactivate the virus,isolation measures(suspected and confirmed cases should be treated in designated hospitals with effective isolation conditions and protective conditions)(P>0.05).The Logistic regression analysis showed that,In the context of COVID-19 prevention and control,The influencing factors associated with anxiety and depression in epilepsy patients were sex(OR=2.145,95%CI:1.116~4.123,P=0.022;OR=2.403,95%CI:1.283~4.499,P=0.022),concern on COVID-19(OR=0.367,95%CI:1.168~6.249,P=0.020;OR=0.180,95%CI:1.756~10.406,P=0.001).Conclusions:During COVID-19,even in low-risk areas,some PWE anxiety and depression were more pronounced compared with normal people,and anxiety and depression were significantly higher than normal people.Anxiety and depression are more pronounced in female patients with epilepsy.The focus of the epidemic is the main influencing factor of anxiety and depression in patients with epilepsy during this special period.PWE do not have enough knowledge about the prevention and control of the epidemic.