Anxiety and depression among adult tobacco users during the COVID-19 restrictions in India

TY - JOUR

T1 - Anxiety and depression among adult tobacco users during the COVID-19 restrictions in India

AU - McNeill, Ann

AU - Bassi, Shalini

AU - Nazar, Guarang P.

AU - Joshi, Nishigandha

AU - Sharma, Nitika

AU - Pandian, Aishwarya

AU - Mohan, Deepa

AU - Mohan, Sailesh

AU - Patel, Shivani A.

AU - Ali, Mohammed K.

AU - Tandon, Nikhil

AU - Mohan, Viswanathan

AU - Dorairaj, Prabhakaran

AU - Arora, Monika

PY - 2022/7/25

Y1 - 2022/7/25

N2 - Background: The world witnessed a highly contagious and deadly disease, COVID-19, towards the end of 32 2019. India is one of the worst affected countries. We aimed to assess anxiety and depression levels among 33 adult tobacco users and people who recently quit tobacco during COVID -19 lockdown in India. 34Methods: The study was conducted across two Indian cities, Delhi and Chennai (July-August, 2020) among 35 adult tobacco users (n=801). Telephonic interviews were conducted using validated mental health tools 36 (Patient Health Questionnaire-PHQ-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-GAD-7) to assess the anxiety and 37 depression levels of the participants. Descriptive analysis and multiple logistic regression were used to study 38 the prevalence and correlates of depression and anxiety. 39Results: We found that 20.6% of tobacco users had depression symptoms (3.9% moderate to severe); 20.7% 40 had anxiety symptoms (3.8% moderate to severe). Risk factors associated with depression and anxiety 41 included food, housing, and financial insecurity. 42Conclusion: During COVID-19 lockdown, mental health of tobacco users (primarily women) was associated 43 with food, housing and financial insecurity. The Indian Government rightly initiated several health, social and 44 economic measures to shield the most vulnerable from COVID-19, including a ban on the sale of tobacco 45 products. It is also necessary to prioritize easy access to tobacco cessation and mental health services to 46 such vulnerable populations during pandemic situations.

AB - Background: The world witnessed a highly contagious and deadly disease, COVID-19, towards the end of 32 2019. India is one of the worst affected countries. We aimed to assess anxiety and depression levels among 33 adult tobacco users and people who recently quit tobacco during COVID -19 lockdown in India. 34Methods: The study was conducted across two Indian cities, Delhi and Chennai (July-August, 2020) among 35 adult tobacco users (n=801). Telephonic interviews were conducted using validated mental health tools 36 (Patient Health Questionnaire-PHQ-9 and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-GAD-7) to assess the anxiety and 37 depression levels of the participants. Descriptive analysis and multiple logistic regression were used to study 38 the prevalence and correlates of depression and anxiety. 39Results: We found that 20.6% of tobacco users had depression symptoms (3.9% moderate to severe); 20.7% 40 had anxiety symptoms (3.8% moderate to severe). Risk factors associated with depression and anxiety 41 included food, housing, and financial insecurity. 42Conclusion: During COVID-19 lockdown, mental health of tobacco users (primarily women) was associated 43 with food, housing and financial insecurity. The Indian Government rightly initiated several health, social and 44 economic measures to shield the most vulnerable from COVID-19, including a ban on the sale of tobacco 45 products. It is also necessary to prioritize easy access to tobacco cessation and mental health services to 46 such vulnerable populations during pandemic situations.

KW - mental health

KW - tobacco users

KW - covid-19

KW - Lockdown

M3 - Article

SN - 1664-0640

JO - Frontiers in Psychiatry

JF - Frontiers in Psychiatry

ER -