Abstract
In this study, we aimed to measure the melatonin levels in COVID-19 positive patients and to investigate the relationship of these levels with depression, death anxiety and insomnia. COVID-19 positive pneumonia group, COVID-19 negative pneumonia group and healthy control groups were included in the study. Melatonin ELISA kit was used. Blood samples were taken at 23:00 h (h), 02:00 h and 06:00 h. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Templer Death Anxiety Scale (TDAS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) were employed to collect data from the participants. The melatonin levels of COVID-19 positive patients at 23:00 h were lower than the control group. In addition, and the melatonin levels of COVID-19 positive patients at 02:00 h and at 06:00 h were lower than both the COVID-19 negative patient group and the control group. It was observed that the peak melatonin concentration of COVID-19 positive patients occurred at 06:00 h. BDI, TDAS and ISI scores of COVID-19 positive patients were higher than other groups. There was a negative correlation between BDI, TDAS, ISI scores of COVID-19 positive patients and their melatonin levels. The correlation between all scale scores and melatonin levels was higher at 02:00 h. Adding melatonin to the treatment of COVID-19 positive patients may be beneficial for these patients experiencing high levels of depression, anxiety and insomnia.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Dr. Fatih Öner for his support in the follow-up of the patients included in the study, blood collection and evaluation of CTs.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).