Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has generated changes due to confinement, this measure can increase the perception of loneliness. The objective was to estimate the frequencies of emotional, social and general loneliness and their association with fear and anxiety with COVID-19, religiosity and severe deterioration of quality of life in middle-aged women. Methods: A cross-sectional study in Colombian women (40-59 y, n=984) surveyed with an electronic form that included sociodemographic characteristics and validated measures (Menopause Rating Scale, de Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, fear of COVID-19 scale, Coronavirus Anxiety Scale and Francis Scale for Religiosity). Associations of emotional, social and general loneliness (dependent variables) with severe somatic, psychological, urogenital and quality of life deterioration, as well as with high religiosity, anxiety and high fear of COVID-19 (independent variables), were estimated. Results: The median age was 47 years old, and 39.2% [95% CI: 36.2-42.3] postmenopausal. Severe deterioration in somatic, psychological, urogenital domains and quality of life in women with emotional, social and general loneliness was found (P<0.001). In adjusted models, high fear of COVID-19, severe deterioration of psychological and urogenital domains and quality of life were associated with emotional, social and general loneliness. Anxiety with COVID-19, somatic domain and high religiosity were not associated with loneliness. Conclusion: Emotional, social and general loneliness were identified in 4/10 middle-aged Colombian women surveyed, and the associated factors were high fear of COVID-19, severe deterioration of quality of life and psychological and urogenital domains. Professionals who care for climacteric women should explore the perception of loneliness when assessing menopausal symptoms.

Background: Quarantine is a measure to control COVID-19 spread, resulting in an increased perception of loneliness. In turn, sleep disorders (SD) may be more frequently reported in uncertain circumstances. Objectives: To identify the association between loneliness and severe SD, in women quarantined due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study carried out in women, between 40 and 79 years and living in Colombia. The women were invited through social network to complete 5 digital instruments: de Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, Menopause Rating Scale, Fear of COVID-19 Five-item Version, Coronavirus Anxiety Scale, and Francis Religion Scale. Bivariate analysis and adjusted logistic regression between loneliness and SD were performed. Results: 1133 women participated, half of them under 50 years old. 43.1% had emotional loneliness, 39.9% social loneliness and 43.3% general loneliness. SD were identified in 6 out of 10 women, those with mild SD presented an OR of 1.84, 1.85, and 1.64, for emotional, social and general loneliness, respectively. Loneliness was associated twice with moderate SD, and more than twice with severe SD. Very severe SD reached OR:5.81 for emotional loneliness, OR:4.38 social loneliness and OR:4.02 general loneliness. In the presence of religiosity, fear and anxiety due to COVID-19, statistical significance was retained for associations, except intense SD with general loneliness. Conclusions: SD were significantly associated with loneliness in our study population. It is important to assess sleep quality and perception of loneliness in middle-aged women, especially during periods of quarantine due to a pandemic to avoid health implications.

Objetivo: estimar la prevalencia de percepción de discriminación y su asociación con estrés laboral, ansiedad y miedo al COVID-19 en médicos generales colombianos. Métodos: Estudio transversal que pertenece al proyecto Dinámicas Psicosociales Universitarias, aval institucional de la Universidad de Cartagena, Colombia. Médicos generales colombianos fueron invitados por redes sociales a diligenciar, los primeros cinco días de abril-2020, un formulario Google Forms© con preguntas sobre temores y opiniones respecto al COVID-19 y las herramientas: Test de Estrés Laboral, Generalized Anxiety Disorder y Fear of COVID-19 Scale. Estudio anónimo, voluntario, aceptación de términos y consentimiento informado. Se conformaron dos grupos: con percepción de discriminación y sin percepción de discriminación, según respuesta a la pregunta “haber tenido percepción de discriminación por su condición de médico”, en los últimos días de marzo-2020. Se realizó regresión logística entre percepción de discriminación con ansiedad, estrés laboral y miedo al COVID-19. Resultados: Participaron 531 médicos colombianos, la mitad entre 20-30 años. 207 (39%) informaron percepción de discriminación. Ansiedad, estrés, temores y miedos relacionados con la pandemia y la labor profesional fueron altamente prevalentes y más frecuentes en el grupo con percepción de discriminación (p<0.05). La presencia y severidad de ansiedad, estrés y temores por el COVID-19 se asociaron con mayor presencia de percepción de discriminación; sentirse protegido por sus superiores laborales se asoció con menor percepción de discriminación. Conclusión: Dos de cada cinco participantes informaron percepción de discriminación, evento social que se asoció con ansiedad, estrés, temores y opiniones sobre la actividad médica en la pandemia.