Abstract
Purpose: Increased preoperative anxiety level may lead to adverse outcomes. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between the quality of life and preoperative anxiety during the four-week preoperative period in patients scheduled to undergo thoracic surgery.
Patients and methods: The study population consisted of 100 patients, 52 men and 48 women scheduled to undergo thoracic surgery. The average of age was 56.1±15.60 years. After providing informed consent, they were asked to answer a questionnaire, through a personal interview, 12 to 15 hours prior to the scheduled thoracic surgery operation. The questionnaire included questions on demographics and incorporated the State Anxiety Inventory and SF-36 scales.
Results: Statistical analysis revealed that women (p=0.023), unemployed patients (p=0.01) and patients that were to be submitted to a mediastinoscopy (p=0.001) had elevated anxiety levels. Deterioration of several parameters related to the quality of life was found to be related to increased anxiety levels. Limitations in work capability or other everyday activities as result of mental health problems (p=0.006), low vitality (p<0.001), bad general mood (p<0.001), deteriorated general health (p<0.001) and general mental health (p<0.001) were associated with preoperative anxiety. No differences were found in anxiety level between lung cancer and non-cancer patients.
Conclusions: This study showed an inverse proportional correlation between preoperative quality of life and anxiety during a period of four weeks prior to a thoracic surgery operation. Appropriate pharmaceutical and psychological support may improve patients' anxiety status.
- © 2011 ERS
