Impacto econômico e profissional da pandemia de Covid-19 e prevalência de depressão e ansiedade nos cirurgiões de ombro e cotovelo do Brasil.

Abstract

Introduction: In December 2019, the covid-19 epidemic caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province, China. In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared a pandemic situation. Exposure to other risk factors for mental disorders caused an increase in their prevalence. Orthopedic surgeons had to deal with an unusual professional and financial situation. The excellent training of new professionals in orthopedics-traumatology also had their activities affected by a change in the teaching pattern. Objectives: To describe the economic and professional impact during the covid-19 pandemic and to assess the prevalence of major depressive episode and generalized anxiety disorder in shoulder and elbow surgeons in Brazil. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, in which specialist shoulder and elbow orthopedic surgeons, full members of the Brazilian Society of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery (SBCOC) were evaluated. The sampling process adopted was for non-probabilistic convenience. The information was obtained through a self-administered online questionnaire about demographic characteristics, professional and income changes during the pandemic and mental health. Generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive episode were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scales, respectively. The survey was applied over 30 days through disclosure by the registered e-mail of SBCOC members. Initially, a univariate analysis was performed describing the occurrence of depression and anxiety, the variables referring to the economic and professional impact of the covid-19 pandemic and the demographic characteristics. Then, the chi-square test of heterogeneity and linear trend was used for bivariate analysis of the prevalence of mental disorders according to economic, professional and demographic characteristics. For all tests, a significance level of 5% was adopted. The analysis will be performed using the STATA v.17 program (StataCorp, College Station, TX, USA). Results: 119 participants were evaluated. The commitment to teaching was stated by 87.7% of the surgeons, there was a reduction of more than 50% in the surgical volume to about 4 in 10 surgeons and a reduction in income above 50% to about 17.3%, with 55 .5% of professionals did not have professional stability. Major depressive episode had a prevalence of 26.7% and generalized anxiety disorder, 20%. The bivariate analysis of the prevalence of mental disorders 11 according to economic, professional and demographic characteristics using the chi-square test showed no association between the variables due to the insufficient sample size. Conclusion: The combination of professional and financial factors may have affected shoulder and elbow surgeons in Brazil, generating high levels of anxiety and depression.