Resumen de Characteristics of patients with panic disorder attended in primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional multicenter study

Miquel Àngel Roca Bennasar, Antonio Torres Villamor, V. Gasull Molinera, Margarita Gili

• español

  Objetivo Evaluar la prevalencia del trastorno de pánico durante la segunda y tercera olas de la pandemia por COVID-19.

  Diseño Estudio transversal multicéntrico.

  Emplazamiento Atención primaria.

  Participantes Los médicos participantes seleccionaron a pacientes atendidos en atención primaria por cualquier motivo durante 16 meses.

  Medición principal Trastorno de pánico diagnosticado usando el cuestionario Primary Care Evaluation Mental Disorders (PRIME-MD).

  Resultados De un total de 678 pacientes elegibles, 36 presentaban un trastorno de pánico, con una prevalencia del 5,3% (intervalo de confianza del 95% 3,6-7,0). Un 63,9% de los casos se presentaron en mujeres. La edad media fue de 46,7±17,1 años. Las dificultades socioeconómicas, como bajos ingresos mensuales, falta de empleo y restricciones económicas para pagos de la vivienda y llegar a final de mes eran más frecuentes en los pacientes con trastorno de pánico que en aquellos sin. Los factores asociados al trastorno de pánico fueron un alto nivel de estrés (escala de Holmes-Rahe > 300), síndrome de fatiga crónica concomitante e intestino irritable y dificultades económicas en los últimos 6 meses.

  Discusión Este estudio caracteriza a los pacientes con trastorno de pánico diagnosticados mediante un instrumento validado durante la pandemia por COVID-19 e identifica los factores de riesgo.

  Conclusiones En pacientes consecutivos no seleccionado en condiciones del mundo real durante la pandemia por COVID-19, la prevalencia del trastorno de pánico fue del 5,3%, siendo más frecuente en mujeres. Es necesario aumentar los recursos para la salud mental durante y más allá de la duración de la pandemia.

• English

  Objective To assess the prevalence of panic disorder during the second and third waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  Design Cross-sectional multicenter study.

  Setting Primary care.

  Participants Participating primary care physicians selected patients visiting their primary care centers for any reason over a 16-month period.

  Main outcome measure Diagnosis of panic disorder was established using The Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders (PRIME-MD) instrument.

  Results Of a total of 678 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 36 presented with panic disorder, with a prevalence of 5.3% (95% confidence interval 3.6–7.0). A total of 63.9% of cases occurred in women. The mean age was 46.7±17.1 years. Socioeconomic difficulties, such as very low monthly income rate, unemployment, and financial constraints to make housing payments and to make ends meet were more frequent in patients with panic disorders as compared to patients without panic disorder. A high level of stress (Holmes–Rahe scale>300), concomitant chronic fatigue syndrome and irritable bowel disease, and having financial difficulties in the past 6 months were associated with factors of panic disorder.

  Discussion This study characterizes patients with panic disorder diagnosed with a validated instrument during the COVID-19 pandemic and identified risk factors for this disease.

  Conclusions In non-selected consecutive primary care attendees in real-world conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the prevalence of panic disorder was 5.3%, being more frequent in women. There is a need to enhance primary care resources for mental health care during the duration of the pandemic and beyond.