[Preoperative anxiety and depression in patients undergoing cardiac surgery and related influencing factors]

To study the effects of demographic variables, surgery-related uncertainty and other related variables on preoperative anxiety and depression in patients undergoing selective cardiac surgery.

103 patients who were scheduled for cardiac surgery were investigated by using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and a self-made questionnaire, and the related influencing factors were analyzed.

The positive rates of anxiety, depression, and both anxiety and depression were 27%, 20%, and 14% respectively. The anxiety score of the female patients was (7.3 +/- 3.8), significantly higher than that of the male patients [(4.3 +/- 3.2), T(97) = 3.41, P < 0.01]. The depression score of the female patients was (6.4 +/- 3.4), significantly higher than that of the male patients [(4.3 +/- 3.2), T(97) = 2.98, P < 0.01]. The education background had no significant influence on anxiety score [F(3, 98) = 1.06, P = 0.37] while had significant difference on depression score [F(3, 98) = 4.10, P < 0.01]. The three factors reflecting the recognition of surgery-related uncertainty, "what I thought is all about the surgery", "I'm worrying about the possible failure of surgery" and "I'm worrying about the possible unsatisfied convalescence", showed very significant effects on the anxiety and depression scores (all P < 0.01).

The state of preoperative anxiety and depression of the cardiac surgical patients are influenced by multiple factors, which should be considered in clinical practice. Recognition of surgery-related uncertainty is one of the most important influencing factors that can predict the state of preoperative anxiety and depression.