Mental health of patients with chronic diseases during the covid-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

During the pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) it has been shown that, in comparison with the general population, elderly adults, patients with chronic diseases (CD), and patients with severe mental disorders are among the groups with greater risk of complications. Although stress and anxiety are normal reactions in a crisis situation, the negative effect the COVID-19 pandemic may influence the clinical evolution of patients with CD, whose development and management is intimately linked with mental health. The therapeutic management of CD demands ac-tive participation from patients, with a notorious emphasis on self-care, encompassing the adherence to pharmaco-logical schemes, specific dietary patterns, physical activity prescriptions, and other elements. This high degree of re-sponsibility, added to the effects of the CD themselves on patients’ quality of life, may represent a powerful detriment on their mental health;constituting a vicious circle in regards to their self-care. The COVID-19 pandemic, the quarantine, and other related measures may magnify the impact of these factors on mental health. This has created new challenges and the need for novel strategies of psychosocial support from the healthcare personnel, family members, and care-takers to guarantee treatment adherence, improve care from home, and achieve adequate control of the evolution of the disease.