Santomauro DF, Herrera AMM, Shadid J, et al. - As many determinants of poor mental health are exacerbated following the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers sought to quantify the impact of the pandemic on the prevalence and burden of major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders globally in 2020 that appears imperative for informed health system responses.

• Data reporting the prevalence of major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic were systematically reviewed.

• Of 5,683 unique data sources identified following a search in PubMed, Google Scholar, preprint servers, grey literature sources, 48 met inclusion criteria (46 studies met criteria for major depressive disorder and 27 for anxiety disorders).

• Prevalence of major depressive disorder and anxiety disorders increased in correlation with two COVID-19 impact indicators, specifically daily SARS-CoV-2 infection rates and reductions in human mobility.

• The pandemic more affected females vs males and younger age groups vs older age groups.

• The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an additional 53·2 million cases of major depressive disorder globally (an increase of 27·6%) as well as with an additional 76·2 million cases of anxiety disorders globally.

• In 2020, overall 49·4 million (33·6 to 68·7) DALYs were caused by major depressive disorder and 44·5 million DALYs were caused by anxiety disorders globally.

• Findings emphasize that, in most countries there is an increased urgency to strengthen mental health systems.