Background: A pandemic poses a significant challenge to the healthcare staff and infrastructure. We studied the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among armed forces doctors in India during the COVID-19 pandemic and the factors that contribute to these symptoms. Methods: The study was conducted from March 30, 2020, to April 2, 2020, using a self-administered questionnaire questionnaire using the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), which was sent through Google Forms. Responses were received from 769 respondents. Data were analyzed for demographic details and HADS scores using the chi-square test and backward logistic regression. Results: Anxiety and depressive symptoms were seen in 35.2% and 28.2% of the doctors, respectively. In doctors with anxiety symptoms, significant associations were observed with age (20–35 years, 39.4%, P = 0.01), gender (females, 44.6%, P < 0.001), duration of service (0–10 years, 38%, P = 0.03), and clinical versus non-clinical specialties (non-clinical, 41.3%, P < 0.001) as opposed to marital status, education level, and current department of work. In doctors with depressive symptoms, significant associations were observed with age (P = 0.04), clinical versus non-clinical specialties (P < 0.001), duration of service (0–10 years, 30.1%, P = 0.03), and doctoral degree (P = 0.04) as opposed to gender, marital status, education level, and current working department. Conclusion: The study revealed a high prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among armed forces doctors. The main contributing factors are female gender, young age group, non-clinical specialties, and having a doctoral degree.

Background At onset of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) was repurposed for treatment of patients based on reports that it had in vitro activity. The aim of this study was to find out if HCQ reduces number of days of hospitalization when given to patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 infections who require hospitalized care. Methods This was an open-label randomized control trial of HCQ administered 400 mg twice on day 1, then 400 mg once daily from day 2 to day 5 in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 infection. Assessment was not blinded. Standard of care was given to both arms.Primary outcome was number of days of hospitalization till discharge or death. Result One hundred ten patients (55 in each arm) were included. Mean age was 58 years. Baseline characteristics were well matched. There was no difference in the primary outcome (13.67 vs 13.89; p = 0.98). Number of deaths were more in HCQ arm (RR: 1.81; 95% CI: 1.13–2.93; p = 0.03). There was no difference in number of days on oxygen or normalization of oxygen saturation, number who needed ventilator, days to ventilator requirement and days on ventilator. Twenty-nine patients in control arm received remdesivir. When adjusted analysis was done after removal of these patients, there was no difference in primary or secondary outcomes. Number of deaths in adjusted analysis were not significant (RR: 1.28; 95% CI: 0.87–1.88; p = 0.37). Conclusion HCQ does not change the number of days of hospitalization when compared with control.

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