Depression-anxiety in Adult Population of Qatar during the First Year of COVID-19

There is limited data from Arabic-speaking countries on risk factors for depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Country-specific data is necessary given differences in culture, demographics, and COVID-19 infection and mortality rates. This study intended to identify the factors associated with symptoms of depression-anxiety in the adult population of Qatar during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey in Qatar between July and December 2020 after Qatar’s first COVID-19 wave and before the beginning of the second wave. Depression-anxiety was defined as a cut-off of 20 or higher on the PHQ-ADS scale. Of 1138 participants, 71.05% were female, 69.0% Arabs, and 70.0% Non-Qataris. 77 % were < 40 years (the median age in Qatar is 32 years). In a fully-adjusted model, six variables were significantly associated with PHQ-ADS; Arab ethnicity (OR=1.67, p=0.026), never married (OR=1.69, p < 0.015), prior psychiatric history (OR=1.80, p=0.009), Social Media induced worries (OR=1.72, p=0.003), history of COVID-19 (OR=1.76, p=0.039), loneliness (OR=1.91, p < 0.001), and lower levels of religiosity (OR=0.96, p=0.039). The potential risk factors identified may assist with anxiety and depression prevention in future COVID-19 waves, similar national events and assist with early intervention to treat sufferers.