Association of Poor Mental-Health Days With COVID-19 Infection Rates in the U.S.
Am J Prev Med
; 62(3): 326-332, 2022 03.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1487579
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Limited evidence exists about the association between prior prevalence of poor mental health at the area level and subsequent rates of COVID-19 infections. This association was tested using area-level nationwide population data in the U.S.METHODS:
A nationwide study including 2,839 U.S. counties was conducted. Poor mental health was the age-adjusted average number of days within the past 30 days that adults reported poor mental health, including depression, stress, and problems with emotions, from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. COVID-19 infection rates were cumulative confirmed cases between January 22 and October 7, 2020 per 100,000 people in the general population. Bayesian spatial mixed-effects regression estimated the relationship between COVID-19 infection and poor mental-health days at the county level in 2019 and change in poor mental health between 2010 and 2019, adjusted for several covariates.RESULTS:
Poor mental-health days in 2019 were positively associated with higher COVID-19 infection rates (RRR=1.059, 95% credible interval=1.003, 1.117). Change in mental health was not significantly associated with COVID-19.CONCLUSIONS:
Prior rates of poor mental health in a county were associated with a higher burden of COVID-19 infection. Interventions that improve well-being and strengthen mental-health systems at the community and other geographic levels are needed to address post-COVID-19 mental health problems.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Mental Health
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Adult
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
North America
Language:
English
Journal:
Am J Prev Med
Journal subject:
Public Health
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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