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Claustrophobia during magnetic resonance imaging: cohort study in over 55,000 patients
Marc Dewey1, Tania Schink, Charles F Dewey
1Department of Radiology, Charité, Medical School, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany. marc.dewey@charite.de
Purpose:
To evaluate whether MR scanners with acoustic noise reduction and a short magnetic bore reduce the rate of claustrophobic reactions.
Materials And Methods:
We performed a cohort study in an outpatient setting, enrolling a total of 55,734 consecutive patients referred for MRI of any part of the body based on a clinical indication. Imaging was performed using a conventional MR scanner (42,998 patients) and a recently developed MR scanner (12,736 patients) with 97% acoustic noise reduction and a short bore. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for the nonrandomized design.
Results:
In addition to those undergoing head-first examinations, female and middle-aged patients were significantly more likely to develop claustrophobia in the logistic regression analysis (P < 0.001). The rate of claustrophobic reactions was significantly lower with the recent MR scanner (0.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.6-0.9%) than with the conventional scanner (2.1%; 95% CI, 2.0-2.3%; P < 0.001) with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 3.1 (95% CI, 2.5-3.9) and a number needed to treat of 72 (95% CI, 63-85).
Conclusion:
The incidence of claustrophobia may be reduced by a factor of 3 when recently-developed MR scanners are used.
Insights
New magnetic resonance (MR) scanners with reduced noise and shorter bores significantly lower claustrophobia rates. This advancement in MR technology offers a more comfortable patient experience, reducing claustrophobic reactions by threefold.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging Technology
- Patient Experience in Healthcare
Background:
- Claustrophobia is a common adverse reaction during magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.
- Conventional MR scanners can induce anxiety and claustrophobia due to their design and acoustic noise.
- Minimizing patient discomfort is crucial for successful imaging outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effectiveness of novel MR scanners featuring acoustic noise reduction and a short bore in mitigating claustrophobic reactions.
- To compare the incidence of claustrophobia between conventional and advanced MR systems.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study involving 55,734 outpatients undergoing MRI for various clinical indications.
- Imaging was conducted on both conventional MR scanners and a new MR scanner with 97% acoustic noise reduction and a short bore.
- Logistic regression analysis was employed to adjust for the nonrandomized study design and identify predictors of claustrophobia.
Main Results:
- The rate of claustrophobic reactions was substantially lower with the new MR scanner (0.7%) compared to the conventional scanner (2.1%).
- Female and middle-aged patients were identified as groups more susceptible to claustrophobia.
- The adjusted odds ratio for claustrophobia was significantly lower with the new scanner (OR=3.1), indicating a threefold reduction.
Conclusions:
- Recently developed MR scanners with acoustic noise reduction and short bores can decrease the incidence of claustrophobia.
- The use of advanced MR technology offers a significant improvement in patient comfort and tolerability.
- These findings suggest a potential shift towards more patient-friendly MR imaging protocols.
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