A traveler applies for a COVID-19 test at Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul on Sept. 7, 2022. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Feb. 21 (Korea Bizwire) — The early symptoms of COVID-19 affect mental health, a study indicated Monday.
A research team from Seoul National University Hospital analyzed the monitoring records of 2,671 patients who contracted mild symptoms of the coronavirus and were admitted to the hospital between March 2020 and April 2022.
The results showed that 523 patients experienced rising anxiety levels, and 535 patients experienced rising depression levels during their quarantine.
Early virus symptoms like sore throat and rising body temperature, for instance, had correlations with higher anxiety.
A drop in oxygen saturation correlated with worsening depression.
The mental stress and sleeping disorders seen during the earlier phases of quarantine tended to worsen both anxiety and depression.
Sleeping disorders, in particular, were one of the primary symptoms that could worsen both depression and anxiety.
In case of COVID-19 symptoms that affect mental health, considerations should be made for medical intervention, the research team said.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
