The impact of healthcare setting on post-COVID mood disorders: a single-centre perspective from Southern Italy Respiratory Intensive Care Unit

Background and objectives: Post-COVID syndrome includes several clinical identities, with both physical and mental alterations lasting several months from the acute phase of COVID-19 disease. However, to date, data concerning the relationship between healthcare settings during COVID-19 disease and post-COVID mood dis orders are lacking. Methods: We performed a prospective study enrolling 440 patients with post-COVID syndrome. Each patient underwent a complete clinical evaluation, along with blood and functional tests. Patients were divided according to the healthcare setting needed during COVID-19 disease. Results: Patients admitted to RICU were more prone to develop mental alterations, even when compared to ICUadmitted patients. Other risk factors for mood disorders included female gender and some post-COVID symptoms. Conclusions: Healthcare needs during COVID-19 can explain the higher incidence of mood disorders in postCOVID syndrome. RICU arises as an important but underexplored risk factor for post-COVID psychic sequelae.