Depressive Symptoms in Healthcare Workers Two Years After the Start of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Bogotá, Colombia

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, different events arose worldwide, including the impact on the mental health of health personnel. Our main aim was to determine the association between sociodemographic, clinical, tobacco and alcohol abuse, and fear of COVID-19 variables with the presence of depressive symptoms in a healthcare facility, in Bogotá DC, in 2022. Materials and methods: Analytical cross-sectional study. Sociodemographic and clinical variables, alcohol and tobacco abuse, and fear of COVID-19 were explored. The presence and severity of depressive symptoms were evaluated with the PHQ-9 scale. Descriptive analysis and chi-square tests were performed. Statistically significant variables (P <.05) were entered into a logistic regression model with depressive symptoms as the dependent variable. Results: 597 people were included, 80% female. The median age was 34 years (Interquartile Range [IQR]: 28-41. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 12.4% (95% CI: 9,74-15,05). The multivariate analysis showed that fear of COVID-19, tobacco use, age under 28, and middle socioeconomic status were the factors that best explained the presence of depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Two years after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, the prevalence of depressive symptoms is 12.4%. It is necessary to carry out strategies to promote mental health in health professionals.