ABSTRACT
Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has spread across the world, leading to government measures such as national lockdowns and social distancing, which are associated with a negative impact on mental health. This study evaluated the impact of COVID-19 on anxiety, depression and resilience in Dutch children and adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) or primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) and their caregivers during the second wave of the pandemic. Methods: Adolescents (12–18 years), adults and caregivers of children (0–18 years) with CF or PCD completed screening questionnaires from Sept-Dec 2020 on anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9), and resilience (BRS). The psychosocial impact of COVID-19 was measured by the Exposure and Family Impact Survey (CEFIS) part 2, which was translated into Dutch using EMA guidelines. Results from the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 were compared to participants’ pre-pandemic scores. Results: 65 individuals participated (CF: 6 adolescents, 32 caregivers. PCD: 17 patients, 10 caregivers). Prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and depression (score of ≥5 on the GAD-7 and/or PHQ-9) during the pandemic was high (34% and 37% respectively for CF, 48% and 37% PCD), but median GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores during the pandemic (CF: GAD-7 = 3.0 and PHQ-9 = 2.5;PCD: GAD-7 = 3.0 and PHQ-9 = 4.0) did not differ from the pre-pandemic outcomes for both groups (CF: GAD-7 = 2.0 and PHQ-9 = 2.0;PCD: GAD-7 = 5.0, PHQ-9 = 5.0). Resilience was within the normal range (mean for CF: 3.33;PCD: 3.29). The mean CEFIS scores for both CF and PCD corresponded to a low (PCD: 11.3) to normal (CF: 21.7) impact. Conclusion: Despite the high prevalence of symptoms of anxiety and depression in this selected population, there was no detected change in these symptoms during the pandemic. Therefore, the current study could not demonstrate a significant impact of COVID-19 on mental health, but does still emphasise the need for psychological care in individuals with CF or PCD and their caregivers.