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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 November 2021
During the Covid Health crisis, Belgium is one of the countries that currently counts a very high rate mortality among the elderly population.With more than 24,000 deaths, including more than 10 000 nursing home patients (for a total population of 11 million); this vulnerable population paid a heavy price during this pandemic. During the 2nd wave, we wanted to focus on the level of stress, anxiety, depression and loneliness among the Geriatric hospitalized population.
This prospective observational and multicentric study (CHU St Pierre and Hospital of Nivelles-Tubize) evaluated the psychological state of our patients hospitalized in Geriatrics from 16/11/2020 to 16/03/2021 (with a Minimal Mental State > 20/30) according to the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) and to the Perceived Stress Scale(PSS).We also estimated their feeling of loneliness. We analysed their biographical, social and medical data as well as their Global Geriatric Evaluation. We will also observe if there are difference between patient living in Nursing Home (NH) or at home.
The sample (n=81) has an average age of 85 years and is predominantly female. The majority were widows with an average of 2 children living at home
Among the 81 geriatric inpatients, 30% scored positive for anxiety, rising to 57% with questionable cases. The depression scale was found to be certain for 17%, rising to 39% if doubtful cases are taken into account.We did not observe a significant difference between the two categories for the patients living at home or in Nursing Home. For the Perceived Stressed Scale, 65% had a high stress score, 15% a moderate score and 20% a low score. It can be noted that nursing home residents also suffer more from loneliness (56%) than people living at home (35%).
This study confirms that the pandemic has had a deleterious effect on the mental state of our elderly during the 2nd wave despite some efforts to reduce isolation. The high mortality rate could be explained by government mismanagement, a delay in action in NH, but also by a latent ageism in Belgium which it would be good to analyze after the pandemic.
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