Association of Symptoms-Based Iron Deficiency Anemia to Anxiety and Depression Related Criteria Symptoms among the 3rd Year Medical Technology Students of the University Of Santo Tomas during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common disease, which include symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, lightheadedness, pallor, and palpitations wherein fatigue is said to be significant to depression and anxiety since it can be described as a condition, which affects the cognitive, emotional, and spiritual functions that may lead to the impairment of school performance and disturbed social relationships. The study aims to associate symptoms-based IDA to anxiety and depression related criteria symptoms among the third year Medical Technology students of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The responses of 160 3rd year UST Medical Technology students were gathered through an online survey questionnaire with regards to screening symptoms-based IDA as well as both anxiety and depression symptoms. Using the Spearman correlation method of analysis, association between symptoms-based IDA with the level of anxiety and depression was determined. Results showed that among the 160 respondents, a total of 1060 symptoms were manifested by the respondents. Moreover, a period prevalence of 78% (124) of the 160 respondents for depression related criteria symptoms and 75% (120) for anxiety related criteria symptoms were observed based on the cutoff scores. There is a significant association between the number of IDA symptoms with the levels of both anxiety and depression symptoms in females than in males where there is no association. It also showed that more IDA symptoms shown mean a more severe level of anxiety and depression symptoms. Furthermore, symptoms of IDA are experienced more by females. It can be deduced that an increase in the number of IDA symptoms experienced by the students also means an increase in the level of anxiety and depression symptoms.