A bstract Background Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exposed healthcare workers (HCWs) to a unique set of challenges and stressors. Our frontline workers are under tremendous psychological pressure because of the ever-rising crisis. This study was done to assess the magnitude of the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on clinical and nonclinical HCWs in India. Materials and methods It was a cross-sectional, online survey that was done from June 1, 2020, to July 4, 2020. A total of 313 clinical and nonclinical HCWs, who were directly or indirectly involved in patient care, participated in the study. The psychological impact was assessed in terms of four variables: insomnia, anxiety, depression, and stress. Insomnia was assessed by the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Anxiety and depression were assessed via the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4), which included a 2-item anxiety scale and a 2-item depression scale (PHQ-2). Stress was assessed via the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). We also compared the psychological impact of this pandemic between clinical and nonclinical HCWs. Results 7.3% of HCWs were having moderate insomnia, 3.8% had severe insomnia, and 20.8% were having subthreshold insomnia. Severe anxiety and depression were found in 6.7% of respondents. 8.0 and 32.3% of the respondents had moderate and mild anxiety–depression, respectively. 6.4% had high perceived stress. 47.6 and 46.0% of the respondents had moderate and low stress, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in severe insomnia between clinical and nonclinical HCWs, whereas no significant difference in anxiety, depression, and stress between clinical and nonclinical HCWs. Conclusion This study suggests that psychological morbidity is prevalent among both clinical and nonclinical HCWs and both males and females. Early intervention may be beneficial to prevent this issue. How to cite this article Sunil R, Bhatt MT, Bhumika TV, Thomas N, Puranik A, Chaudhuri S, et al. Weathering the Storm: Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Clinical and Nonclinical Healthcare Workers in India. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(1):16–20.

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Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused a huge burden on healthcare services worldwide, severely affecting the management of non-COVID-19 patients as well. The Government of India has updated guidelines for the clinical management of COVID-19 illness, including severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) definition for triaging suspected COVID-19 cases in an isolated intensive care unit (ICU). The aim of this study was to estimate the adherence of clinicians in triaging COVID-19 suspects as per SARI definition to SARI ICU. This study also observed the impact of such triaging on admission, diagnosis, and treatment process of non-COVID-19 patients admitted to SARI ICU. Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a designated SARI ICU of two tertiary care medical college hospitals involving 78 patients from the month of June to July 2020. Data related to demographics, the severity of illness, advanced life supports, delay in diagnosis, intervention, and treatment of patients in SARI ICU due to suspected COVID-19 status were documented. Results: Adherence to SARI definition for triaging COVID-19-suspect cases was 19.2%. Despite hindrance in diagnosis (17.9%) and treatment (12.8%), mortality among patients in SARI ICU was limited to 14.10%. Results were insignificant when checked for various factors associated with mortality. Conclusion: Nonadherence to SARI definition may lead to undue delay in diagnosis, intervention, and treatment of non-COVID-19 cases. This may result in increased morbidity, mortality, and economic burden on patients and the healthcare system. key message: A rationale and just utilization of healthcare resources are need of the hour in the face of an enormous volume of SARI cases during COVID-19 pandemic. SARI criteria as implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), Government of India, are a very important tool in triaging of COVID-19-suspect cases. Adequate measures should be in place in order to mitigate the inadequacies and deficiencies in the treatment of non-COVID-19 cases, which have occurred as a result of COVID-19 pandemic. How to cite this article: Arunachala S, Venkatesh BT, Bhatt MT, Puranik A, Rao S, Ravindranath S. COVID-19 Pandemic: Impact on Admission, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Non-COVID-19 Patients Admitted to SARI ICU. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(8):853–859.

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