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Deprecated: Implicit conversion from float 231.6 to int loses precision in C:\Inetpub\vhosts\kidney.de\httpdocs\pget.php on line 534 Eur+J+Obstet+Gynecol+Reprod+Biol 2020 ; 253 (ä): 148-153 Nephropedia Template TP
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Influence of COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological status of infertile couples #MMPMID32866858
Esposito V; Rania E; Lico D; Pedri S; Fiorenza A; Strati MF; Conforti A; Marrone V; Carosso A; Revelli A; Zullo F; Di Carlo C; Venturella R
OBJECTIVE(S): to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on infertile couples' emotions, anxiety and future plans. STUDY DESIGN: An observational study was perfomed by Italian ART centers and online forums. In this study, infertile couples candidate to ART and whose treatment was blocked due to the COVID-19 lockdown were enrolled through an online survey. The psychological impact of COVID-19 was measured by Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R) and by a short form of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI); Self-perceived anxiety related either to pregnancy safety and to economic crisis measured by VAS scale. RESULTS: 627 patients completed the survey. The COVID-19 lock-down had a moderate/severe psychological impact on infertile patients (mean IES-R score 36.4 +/- 16.6). The mean STAI score was 49.8 +/- 15.3, with an overall incidence of STAI > 36 of 71 %. The mean VAS scale for anxiety perception was 45.3 +/- 15.3. Women were more emotionally distressed, anxious and depressed than men (36.8 +/- 16.4 vs 31.0 +/- 18.4 for IES-R, respectively; p = 0.03). Notwithstanding the uncertainty about pregnancy safety, 64.6 % of respondents chose to maintain their reproductive programme. Economic crisis induced 11.5 % of the surveyed patients to give up their ART program. Respondents who had at least one relative affected by COVID-19 had a significantly higher IES-R score and anxiety VAS, but not higher STAI scores, than patients belonging to unaffected families. CONCLUSION(S): COVID-19 pandemic itself and the recommendation to stop ART program generated higher distress levels in infertile couples. The psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic in infertility patients should not be underestimated, and a specific psychological support should be planned.