Mental health status of healthcare workers during COVID 19 pandemic and its correlation with fatigue

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected both the physical and psychological well-being of those who have been infected or have lost loved ones. Among those most affected are healthcare workers who have been on the frontline throughout the pandemic. This study aims to assess the levels of anxiety and depression among healthcare workers and their association with various demographic parameters. Additionally, we sought to determine the association between the Global Fatigue Index (GFI) and HADS score. Of the participants, 12 (16.22%) had borderline HADS scores (8-10) and 4 (5.41%) had abnormal HADS scores for depression (11-21). Furthermore, 13 (17.57%) had abnormal HADS scores for anxiety. HADS scores for both anxiety and depression were associated with female gender, profession (paramedic staff were more affected than doctors), and income. The GFI was calculated using the Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue (MAF) score and found to have a positive correlation with various demographic parameters as well as with the HADS score, indicating that psychological stress has an impact on physical well-being and can lead to prolonged fatigue, thereby affecting an individual’s working capacity.