Should COVID-19 have a direct impact on the risk of depression, it would suggest specific pathways for prevention and treatment. In this retrospective population-based study, we aimed to examine the association of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection with depressive symptoms, distinguishing self-reported v. biologically confirmed COVID-19.

32 007 participants from the SAPRIS survey nested in the French CONSTANCES cohort were included. COVID-19 was measured as followed: ad hoc serologic testing, self-reported PCR or serology positive test results, and self-reported COVID-19. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Center of Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). Outcomes were depressive symptoms (total CES-D score, its four dimensions, and clinically significant depressive symptoms) and exposure was prior COVID-19 (no COVID-19/self-reported unconfirmed COVID-19/biologically confirmed COVID-19).

In comparison to participants without COVID-19, participants with self-reported unconfirmed COVID-19 and biologically confirmed COVID-19 had higher CES-D scores (β for one interquartile range increase [95% CI]: 0.15 [0.08–0.22] and 0.09 [0.05–0.13], respectively) and somatic complaints dimension scores (0.15 [0.09–0.21] and 0.10 [0.07–0.13]). Only those with self-reported but unconfirmed COVID-19 had higher depressed affect dimension scores (0.08 [0.01–0.14]). Accounting for ad hoc serologic testing only, the CES-D score and the somatic complaints dimension were only associated with the combination of self-reported COVID-19 and negative serology test results.

The association between COVID-19 and depressive symptoms was merely driven by somatic symptoms of depression and did not follow a gradient consistent with the hypothesis of a direct impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the risk of depression.

To assess the associations between anxiety and depressive symptoms and post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) by exploring the direction of these associations and their relevance in the definition of PCC.

Nationwide survey among French adults, recruited between March and April, 2022, using a quota method to capture a representative sample of the general population with regard to sex, age, socioeconomic status, size of the place of residence, and region. We included all participants who met the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of PCC in addition to a random sample of participants infected with SARS-COV-2 for at least 3 months but without PCC. Self-reported anxiety and depressive symptoms, chronic anxiety and depression (for more than 3 years), and anxiety and depression were measured using the GAD-2 and PHQ-2 questionnaires, respectively.

In a sample of 1,095 participants with PCC and 1,021 participants infected with SARS-COV-2 without PCC, 21% had self-reported anxiety and 18% self-reported depression, whereas 33% and 20% had current measured symptoms of anxiety and depression, respectively. The high prevalence of these symptoms cannot only be explained by the characterization of PCC, as only 13.4% of anxiety symptoms and 7.6% of depressive symptoms met the WHO criteria for PCC. Only one participant met the WHO criteria based on self-reported anxiety or depressive symptoms alone, as these were always combined with other symptoms in patients with PCC. Chronic symptoms were associated with PCC (aOR 1.27; 95% CI: 1.00–1.61). In addition, measured anxiety was associated with PCC (aOR = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.02–1.62).

Pre-COVID-19 chronic anxiety and depression may play a role in the development of PCC or share vulnerability factors with it. Our results challenge the inclusion of anxiety and depression in the definition of PCC.

Health-care personnel (HCPs) are predisposed to infection during direct or indirect patient care as well as due to the community spread of the disease.

We observed the clinical presentation and course of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus disease 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in HCPs working in a dedicated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) care hospital during the first and the second wave.

A total of 100 and 223 HCPs were enrolled for the first wave and the second wave, respectively. Cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose, and headache was seen in 40 (40%) and 152 (68%) (P < 0.01), 15 (15%) and 64 (29%) (P = 0.006), 40 (40%) and 119 (53.3%) (P = 0.03), 9 (9%) and 66 (30%) (P < 0.01), 20 (20%) and 125 (56%) (P < 0.01), respectively. Persistent symptoms at the time of joining back to work were seen in 31 (31%) HCPs and 152 (68%) HCPs, respectively (P ≤ 0.01). Reinfection was reported in 10 HCPs.

Most of the HCPs had mild to moderate infections. Symptoms persist after joining back to work. Upgradation of home-based care and teleconsultation facilities for active disease and redressal of residual symptoms will be helpful.