Mental health of frontline healthcare workers exposed to COVID-19 in Egypt: A call for action

<jats:sec> <jats:title>Background:</jats:title> <jats:p>World Health Organization (WHO) declared Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a pandemic in March 2020. Such widespread outbreaks are associated with adverse mental health consequences.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Aims:</jats:title> <jats:p>To evaluate mental health outcomes among Egyptian healthcare workers (HCW) treating patients with confirmed or suspected Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) to direct the promotion of mental wellbeing, by screening for symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, depression and stress, and analyzing potential risk factors.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Methods:</jats:title> <jats:p>This cross-sectional, hospital-based survey study collected demographic data and mental health measurements from 502 HCW dealing with COVID-19. HCW were surveyed in 20 hospitals (Fever, Chest, and Quarantine hospitals) in different parts of Egypt, in April and May 2020.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Results:</jats:title> <jats:p>Among the 502 HCW surveyed; 60.0% were physicians, 16.1% were specialized nurses, and 23.9% were non-specialized nurses. About 35.3% worked in chest hospitals, 17.5% in fever hospitals, and 47.2% in quarantine hospitals. A considerable proportion of HCW had symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, depression, and stress. Females were at higher risk of experiencing symptoms of severe anxiety (odds ratio [OR], 1.85; 95% CI, 1.12–3.05; p = .016), severe depression (OR, 2.013; 95% CI, 1.17–3.4; p = .011), and severe stress (OR, 2.68; 95% CI, 1.5–4.6; p < .001). Fever hospital workers were at higher risk of severe depression (OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.11–2.09; p < .01), compared to Quarantine hospital workers.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Conclusion:</jats:title> <jats:p>Ensuring proper mental health support for HCW is an important component of public health measures for addressing the COVID-19 epidemic and safeguarding the continuity of appropriate medical service.</jats:p> </jats:sec>