Report on sadness/depression, nervousness/anxiety and sleep problems in the Brazilian adult population during the COVID-19 pandemic

• Published in: Epidemiologia e serviços de saúde Vol. 29; no. 4; p. e2020427
• Main Authors: Barros, Marilisa Berti de Azevedo, Lima, Margareth Guimarães, Malta, Deborah Carvalho, Szwarcwald, Célia Landmann, Azevedo, Renata Cruz Soares de, Romero, Dalia, Souza Júnior, Paulo Roberto Borges de, Azevedo, Luis Otávio, Machado, Ísis Eloah, Damacena, Giseli Nogueira, Gomes, Crizian Saar, Werneck, André de Oliveira, Silva, Danilo Rodrigues Pereira da, Pina, Maria de Fátima de, Gracie, Renata
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil 2020
• Subjects: Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Anxiety - epidemiology; Betacoronavirus; Brazil - epidemiology; Confidence Intervals; Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology; Coronavirus Infections - psychology; COVID-19; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression - epidemiology; Female; Health Surveys - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology; Pneumonia, Viral - psychology; Prevalence; Sadness; SARS-CoV-2; Sleep Wake Disorders - epidemiology; Young Adult; Brazil
• ISSN: 2237-9622
• DOI: 10.1590/S1679-49742020000400018

To analyze the frequency of sadness, nervousness, and sleep disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, identifying the most affected demographic segments. This was a cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire answered by adults and elderly people to collect information on living conditions, health and health-related behaviors. Prevalence rates and prevalence ratios adjusted for age and sex were estimated. The data on 45,161 Brazilian respondents showed that during the pandemic 40.4% (95%CI 39.0;41.8) frequently felt sad or depressed and 52.6% (95%CI 51.2;54.1) frequently felt anxious or nervous; 43.5% (95%CI 41.8;45.3) reported the onset of sleep problems and 48.0% (95%CI 45.6;50.5) had a prior sleep problem that had become worse. Frequent sadness and nervousness, as well as change in sleep patterns were higher in young adults, women and those with a history of depression. The high prevalence found indicates the need to guarantee the provision of services for mental health and quality of sleep that are adapted to the pandemic context.