Evaluation of Stress Levels in Patients Suffering from COVID 19 Infection Admitted in Isolation Ward of a Tertiary Hospital at Hapur as Assessed by Perceived Stress Scale

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the stress levels in patients suffering from COVID 19. 100 COVID
19 patients with age >15 years of both genders were included in the study after taking written informed
consent. All the subjects were administered Perceived Stress Scale questionnaire to fill and scores were
calculated. 82% of the subjects were suffering from high stress while 16% were in moderate category and
only 2% reported low perceived stress. As far as age wise distribution of subjects was considered, 36% were
< 40 years of age, 32% were between 40 – 60 years and 32% were more 60 years of age. Out of the females
43% had high stress, 3% had moderate and none were in low stress category. While in males 39% had high
stress, 13% had moderate and 2% reported low stress. There was a significant increase in the perceived stress
score in females as compared to males (33.08 + 4.29 vs 30.57 + 5.27; p <0.01). So, there is a need to assess
the stress in all COVID 19 patients and regular counselling and psychotherapy should be done specially in
female patients.