Abstract: TH-PO1089
Evaluating the Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Anxiety in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients
Session Information
- COVID-19 - I
November 02, 2023 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Pennsylvania Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
- 000 Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Authors
- Fadlallah, Jad, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Samudio, Ana Maria, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Groe, Katalin, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Jahed, Mursal, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Mucsi, Istvan, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Group or Team Name
- Kidney Health Education and Research Group.
Background
The impact of the SARS-CoV-2 on mental health, specifically on anxiety symptoms may be pronounced among solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs), who are immunocompromised and at a higher risk of infection. This study aims to assess the impact of the pandemic on anxiety symptoms in SOTRs.
Methods
Cross-sectional convenience sample of adult kidney, kidney-pancreas, liver and kidney-liver transplant recipients, recruited in studies validating PROMIS tools between 1997-2023. Demographic data are self-reported, clinical data is from health records. Patients completed the PROMIS-29 anxiety v2.0 using 4-item SF or CAT, scored on a T-score metric, where higher score indicates more anxiety symptoms.
In our primary analysis, we compare anxiety between patients who completed the questionnaires prior to the pandemic (PRE) vs after the onset of the pandemic (POST). In our secondary analysis, we further divide our POST group into those who were transplanted before (POST-B) and those who were transplanted after the pandemic (POST-A), to further delineate the potential association between the pandemic and anxiety symptoms.
Scores were compared using two-sample t-test and linear regression adjusted for organ type, age, sex, ethnicity, education, marital status, economic disadvantage, comorbidity, time since transplant, serum albumin and hemoglobin.
Results
Of 682 participants, 422 (62%) were male, mean(SD) age was 53(15) years. In our primary analysis, mean(SD) PROMIS-29 anxiety scores were higher in POST vs PRE (54[9] vs 52[9], p=0.004). POST anxiety scores were significantly higher in the fully adjusted regression model (coefficient[95% CI]: 2.9[0.9,4.9], p=0.007). In our secondary analysis, the fully adjusted regression model showed that the timing of transplant (prior to or after COVID onset) status was associated with anxiety scores (reference: PRE): POST-A (coefficient[95%CI]: 4.2[0.8,7.6], p=0.019), POST-B (2.4[0.6,5.4]).
Conclusion
Anxiety scores collected in this sample of SOTRs were higher after the onset of the pandemic. These findings suggest that mental health support for SOTRs is relevant and important in the context of the pandemic. Longitudinal studies can assess the development of anxiety symptoms in the future.