Factors Associated with Depressive Symptoms Approximately One-Year After SARS-CoV-2 Infection

SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with increased risk of depressive symptoms. We sought to examine associated factors of depressive symptoms approximately one year after SARS-CoV-2 infection. A survey of 528 individuals aged 16 years or older who were diagnosed with COVID-19 between 29 July 2020, and 31 March 2021 was conducted in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. The survey was administered from 15 November to 15 December 2021 (response rate, 40.9%). After excluding participants with incomplete responses, 151 respondents were included in the analytical sample. Depressive symptoms during the last week was assessed by the Japanese version of the CES-D scale. We examined factors associated with depressive symptoms using logistic regression analyses. The mean follow-up was 11 months (SD 1.6; range 7–16). The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 15.9%. Individuals living alone had significantly elevated risk of depressive symptoms (odds ratio, 3.38, 95% confidence interval: 1.13–10.10). Depressive symptoms one year after SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with social circumstances (living alone), but no other biomedical factors, such as the severity of the original disease (e.g., requiring oxygen supplementation in hospital).