• Roberta de Pádua Borges, Angela de Azevedo Jacob Reichelt, Ariane de Brito, Gabriela Oliveira Gonçalves Molino, and Beatriz D Schaan.
• Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Graduate program in Medical Science: Endocrinology - Porto Alegre (RS), Brazil.
• Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992). 2021 Sep 1; 67 (9): 1268-1273.

ObjectivePsychological effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on pregnant women with diabetes and hypertension are not yet studied. Besides the pregnancy, these women have additional risk factors for severe acute respiratory syndrome due to COVID-19 and are considered a particularly vulnerable, unique population. We aimed to assess their mental health during this pandemic.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study carried out at a Brazilian tertiary hospital. Women with pregnancies complicated by hypertension and/or diabetes were evaluated. The primary outcome was anxiety, and depressive symptoms evaluated with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Patient Health Questionnaire. Perception of changing habits during quarantine was evaluated as a secondary outcome.ResultsSeventy-nine patients were included. The prevalence of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory ≥40 was 79.7% and that of Patient Health Questionnaire ≥10 was 59.2%. Lower social support was correlated with higher scores on both scales. Time spent with electronic devices was perceived as greater by 62% of the women.ConclusionsPregnant women with diabetes and hypertension presented high levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering that these symptoms can affect both the mother's and offspring's health, it is necessary to implement tools to improve their mental health.

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