Changes in the prevalence of severe anxiety and depression symptoms and the associated factors in adults living in Manaus: a comparison of two cross-sectional studies conducted in 2015 and 2019.

BACKGROUND

Emotional distress increases, also affected by the setting.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate changes in prevalence of severe anxiety and depressive symptoms and associated factors.

DESIGN AND SETTING

This cross-sectional study included adults living in Manaus selected through a three-stage probability sampling in 2015 and 2019.

METHODS

This is an analysis of two surveys conducted. The outcomes were assessed by Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (≥ 15 points) and Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item (≥ 20), and changes were tested by chi-square goodness-of-fit. Prevalence ratios (PR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated by Poisson regression.

RESULTS

Severe anxiety symptoms increased from 3.3% (95%CI = 2.7-3.9) in 2015 (n = 3,479) to 8.7% (95%CI = 7.5-9.8) in 2019 (n = 2,321); severe depressive symptoms changed from 2.5% (95%CI = 2.0-3.0) to 8.5% (95%CI = 7.3-9.6). Variations were more pronounced in social vulnerability (P < 0.05). Outcomes were higher in women (anxiety: PR = 1.27; 95%CI = 1.20-1.34, depression: PR = 1.35; 95%CI = 1.27-1.44), low-income individuals (anxiety: PR = 1.90; 95%CI = 1.20-3.00, depression: PR = 1.98; 95%CI = 1.22-3.19), less educated individuals (anxiety: PR = 2.20; 95%CI = 1.16-4.18, depression: PR = 2.37; 95%CI = 1.23-4.60), and individuals with poor health status (anxiety: PR = 9.06; 95%CI = 6.72-12.21, depression: PR = 8.99; 95%CI = 6.67-12.12).

CONCLUSION

Severe anxiety and depression tripled in Manaus, potentially reflecting Brazilian socioeconomic crises.