The levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms in COPD and lung cancer patients

Abstract

Introduction

It is known that patients with chronic and life - threatening diseases often presents anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Objectives

The comparison of the levels of anxiety and depression in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in patients with lung cancer.

Methods

The completion of the HADS scale was requested in 42 randomly selected patients (21 with lung cancer and 21 with COPD).

Results

Higher rates appeared in the subscales of anxiety and depression of the HADS (12.88 SD 5.03 and 13.45 SD 5.60, respectively) compared to the general hospitalized patients. Pathological rates of anxiety appeared at the 59.5% of the sample, while pathological rates of depression were found at 45.2%. Patients with lung cancer presented higher total score at HADS against patients with COPD (29.48 SD 9.3 vs 23.19 SD 8.26, t test p < 0. 05). In the subscale of anxiety appeared statistically higher average rate in patients with cancer against patients with COPD (14.43 SD 4.97 vs 11.33 SD 4.33, t test p < 0.05). Among the demographic factors, only age seemed to participate to the anxiety variation.

Conclusions

Patients with COPD such as patients with lung cancer are presented with high rates of anxiety and depressive symptoms. Patient's age seems to be a significant factor at the variation of the anxiety symptoms.