Predictive Factors of Preoperative Anxiety in the Anesthesia Clinic: A Survey of 231 Surgical Candidates

Despite the growing advancements of surgical and anesthetic techniques resulting in decreased morbidity and mortality, the period before surgery remains stressful for most patients. Considering the adverse effect of preoperative anxiety on anesthesia and surgery outcomes, we conducted this study to evaluate the level of anxiety in the anesthesia clinic among Iranian patients undergoing surgery and also to determine its associated factors.

This was a cross-sectional study performed on 231 patients admitted to the anesthesia clinic of Imam Khomeini hospital, Tehran, Iran. Data were collected by using a three-part questionnaire consisting of demographic data, clinical findings and the translated version of Spielberger state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI). Chi-square test and binary logistic regression model were performed for univariate and multivariate analysis, respectively. A p-value< 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

The mean (SD) score for state and trait anxiety were 39.8 (13.4) and 36.5 (12.2), respectively. A significant association was seen between state anxiety and age, gender, occupation, level of education, marital status, patients’ awareness of type of anesthesia and patients’ awareness of anesthesia adverse events (p< 0.05). The most predictive factors for state anxiety were age, patients’ awareness of anesthesia adverse events and female gender, and for trait anxiety these factors were age, place of residence and female gender.

Screening for anxiety and identifying individuals vulnerable to preoperative anxiety (e.g. younger patients, females…) can help reduce undesirable surgery outcomes and their economic burden on the healthcare system.