Anxiety symptoms in patients with hypertension: a community-based study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate incidence and severity of anxiety symptoms in patients with hypertension.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey in 891 (432 females) hypertensive patients was conducted in a regional community. All patients were interviewed and detailed physical examination was performed. Zung self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) was used to evaluate the severity of anxiety symptoms.


RESULTS
Anxiety was diagnosed on clinical grounds in 103 patients (11.6%) who also had a raw SAS score of more than 40. In all subjects surveyed, the average SAS score in females was higher than males (32.9+/- 7.1 vs 31.2+/-6.4, p < 0.001). The average SAS score was also higher in patients with hypertension of more than 3 years (32.4+/-7.0 vs 31.2+/-6.1, p = 0.01), in patients with severe hypertension (39.8+/-6.9 vs 29.6 4+/-4.5, p < 0.001), and in patients with a history of hospitalization for cardiovascular disorders (35.7+/-7.7 vs 31.7+/-6.6, p < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis showed that female gender, duration of hypertension, and hospitalization history were independent predictors of anxiety symptoms (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Almost 12% of hypertensive patients have anxiety symptoms. Female gender, the duration of hypertension, and the history of hospitalization are associated with the occurrence and severity of anxiety symptoms in patients with hypertension.
Wei
Tie-Min
TM
Lishui City Central Hospital, China.
Wang
Lexin
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012647:Self-Assessment