Prevalence of Anxiety and its Associated Factors Among Patients Admitted at a Tertiary Neurosurgical Center in Kathmandu, Nepal

Abstract

Introduction: The co-existence of anxiety disorders in patients with neurological and neurosurgical disease is in association with barriers to treatment and worsening medical outcomes. This study aims to identify the prevalence and correlation of anxiety in a tertiary neurological center in Kathmandu, Nepal.

 Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted at a tertiary neurological center in Kathmandu in patients undergoing major neurosurgical procedure. A semi-structured questionnaire including socio-demographic characteristics and medical history were used to collect data. Nepali translated Hospital Anxiety Scale, AUDIT, and Fragesterum Questionnaire were used to assess the anxiety level, alcohol dependence and tobacco dependence among the participants respectively. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression were used to test the association of anxiety with independent variables.

Results: A total of 260 patients participated in this study with the mean age of 45.7 ( SD 17.9) years. Out of total participants, 174 (66.9%) were found to have anxiety. Anxiety was found to be associated with older age group (OR=0.333, 95% CI=0.19-0.58), low education level (OR=2.176, CI=1.28-3.70) and presence of at least one chronic disease other than neurological condition (OR=2.034, 95% CI=1.14-3.63).

Conclusions: This study revealed a high prevalence of anxiety in patient who are undergoing neurosurgical procedure. The need for a focused approach to mental health care within the hospital should be implemented with a friendly environment making better relationships between patient and healthcare staff.