Behavioral, Emotional Problems and Fatigue in Adolescents After COVID-19 Infection: A Cross-Sectional Study

Yıl 2022, Cilt: 16 Sayı: 6, 487 - 494, 30.11.2022

Elif Akçay , Esra Çöp , Gülser Şenses Dinç , Zeynep Göker , Aslınur Özkaya Parlakay , Müge Mutlu Betül Damla Demirel Begüm Kırmızı

https://doi.org/10.12956/tchd.1010956

Öz

Objective: This study aimed to investigate behavioral, emotional problems and fatigue in adolescents after COVID-19 infection. Also, we examined relationships between baseline inflammation levels, fatigue, and the current behavioral and emotional problems of adolescents.

Material and Methods: A total of 110 adolescents (56 boys, 50.9%, mean age 14.72 years) and their parents were included in the study. Psychiatric assessments of the adolescents were performed 7.31±2.35 months after discharge from hospital. Behavioral and emotional problems was assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) 6-18 parent-rated questionnaire.

Results: We collected baseline inflammatory markers including C-reactive protein (CRP), the neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), the monocyte/lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII). The proportions of adolescents that were in the clinical range in at least one behavioral and emotional domain were as follows: 44.5% in the entire sample, 35.7% in boys, and 53.7% in girls. Thought problems were the most common problems in the entire sample (25.5%). The rates of internalizing and externalizing symptoms were 33.6% and 16.4%, respectively. Somatic and attention symptoms were more frequent in females than in males. Inflammatory marker levels did not correlate with behavioral and emotional scores. Fatigue symptoms were determined in 36.4% of all adolescents. We found that somatic and attention problems are more common in fatigued adolescents.

Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that screening for behavioral, emotional problems, and fatigue in adolescents with COVID-19 infection is necessary. Future studies with a follow-up design are needed to determine whether a relationship exists between behavioral, emotional problems and baseline inflammation levels after COVID-19 infection.

Anahtar Kelimeler

COVID-19, Mental health, Adolescent, Inflammation, Fatigue

Teşekkür

We are extremely grateful to all adolescents and their families for taking part. We would like to thank the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit of Ankara City Hospital and all healthcare professionals who treated the children with great devotion during the pandemic.

COVİD-19 Enfeksiyonu Sonrası Ergenlerde Davranışsal, Emosyonel Problemler ve Yorgunluk: Kesitsel Bir Çalışma

Öz

Amaç: Bu çalışma, COVİD-19 enfeksiyonu sonrası ergenlerde davranışsal, emosyonel problemler ve yorgunluk belirtilerini araştırmayı amaçlamıştır. Ayrıca, ergenlerin başlangıç inflamasyon düzeyleri ile mevcut davranış, emosyonel problemler ve yorgunluk belirtileri arasındaki ilişkiler incelenmiştir.

Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışmaya toplam 110 ergen (56 erkek, %50.9, yaş ortalaması 14.72 yıl) ve ebeveynleri dahil edildi. Ergenlerin psikiyatrik değerlendirmeleri hastaneden taburcu olduktan 7.31±2.35 ay sonra yapılmıştır. Ergenlerdeki davranış, emosyonel problemler, Çocuk Davranışı Kontrol Listesi (CBCL) 6-18 ebeveyn formu kullanılarak değerlendirilmiştir.

Bulgular: COVİD-19 tanı anındaki C-reaktif protein (CRP), nötrofil/lenfosit oranı (NLR), monosit/lenfosit oranı (MLR) ve sistemik immün-enflamasyon indeksi (SII) dahil olmak üzere temel inflamatuar belirteçleri geriye dönük olarak saptanmıştır. En az bir davranışsal ve emosyonel problem alanında klinik aralıkta olan ergenlerin oranı tüm örneklemde %44.5, erkeklerde %35.7 ve kızlarda %53.7 olarak bulunmuştur. Düşünce sorunları tüm örneklemde (%25.5) en sık görülen sorunlar olarak bulunurken; içe yönelim ve dışa yönelim belirtilerinin oranları sırasıyla %33.6 ve %16.4 olarak saptanmıştır. Somatik ve dikkat belirtileri kadınlarda erkeklere göre daha sık olduğu bulunmuştur. İnflamatuar belirteç düzeyleri ile davranışsal ve emosyonel problem skorları arasında korelasyon saptanmamıştır. Tüm ergenlerin %36.4’ünde yorgunluk belirtileri saptanmıştır. Yorgunluk olan ergenlerde somatik ve dikkat problemlerin daha fazla olduğu bulunmuştur.

Sonuç: Bulgularımız, COVİD-19 enfeksiyonu olan ergenlerde davranışsal, emosyonel problemler ve yorgunluk belirtileri taramasının gerekli olduğunu göstermiştir. COVİD-19 enfeksiyonu sonrası davranışsal, emosyonel problemler ile başlangıç inflamasyon seviyeleri arasında bir ilişki olup olmadığını belirlemek için izlem çalışmalarına ihtiyaç vardır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

COVID-19, ruh sağlığı, ergen, inflamasyon, yorgunluk

Kaynakça

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