Abstract
Objective: To classify the staff of two reference institutions for COVID-19 care in Antioquia according to the intensity of anxiety and depression symptoms, and to determine the factors associated with these classes.Methods:Cross-sectional study in which the GAD-7, PHQ-9, fear of COVID-19, and the Copenhagen Burnout scale were used. Latent class analysis was performed to identify the classes, and the factors associated with these were determined using multinomial logistic regression.Results: 486 people participated. The three-class model had the best fit: class I with low scores on the scales; class II with mild degrees of anxiety and depression, and intermediate levels of fear of COVID-19 and perceived stress; and class III with moderate and severe degrees of anxiety, depression, and perceived stress. The factors associated with belonging to class III were age (OR=0.94; 95%CI, 0.91-0.96), change of residence to avoid exposing relatives (OR=4.01; 95%CI, 1.99-8.09), and a history of depressive disorder (OR=3.10; 95%CI, 1.27-7.56), and anxiety (OR=5.5; 95%CI, 2.36-12.90). Factors associated with class II were age (OR=0.97; 95%CI, 0.95-0.99), history of depressive disorder (OR=3.41; 95%CI, 1.60-7.25), living with someone at risk of death from COVID-19 (OR=1.86; 95%CI, 1.19-2.91), family member being healthcare staff (OR=1.58; 95%CI, 1.01-2.47), and change of residence to avoid exposing relatives (OR=1.99; 95%CI, 1.11-3.59).Conclusions: Three classes of participants were obtained, two of them with anxiety and depression symptoms. Younger age and a history of mental disorder were factors associated with the two classes of symptomatic patients; other factors may be causes or consequences of the symptoms.