Prevalence and characteristics of anxiety in patients with unconfirmed pulmonary nodules

This study focuses on the prevalence and characteristics of anxiety in patients with pulmonary nodules that was assessed by Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) scores. A total of 890 patients were enrolled in this study, including incidence of absence of anxiety n = 343 (38.54%), mild or probable anxiety n = 459 (51.57%) and moderate or definite anxiety n = 79 (8.88%) and obvious anxiety n = 9 (1.01%), respectively. According to the definition of anxiety, 88 (9.89%) patients were enrolled in anxiety group. The incidence of anxiety in females was significantly higher than male (11.98% vs. 7.20%, p = 0.018), patients with respiratory symptoms were significantly higher than without respiratory symptoms (13.33% vs. 8.50%, p = 0.029) and diameter of pulmonary nodules >8 mm is significantly higher than ≤8 mm (13.35% vs. 7.10%, p = 0.002). Regression analysis showed that female (OR = 0.548, 95% CI: 0.340-0.884), family history of malignant tumour (OR = 1.691, 95% CI: 1.067-2.678), respiratory symptoms (OR = 1.713, 95% CI: 1.073-2.733) and diameter >8 mm (OR = 2.135, 95% CI: 1.350-3.375) were independent risk factors of anxiety. Further analysis of 88 patients with anxiety showed the sum of psychic anxiety was significantly higher than somatic anxiety (16.66 ± 2.46 vs. 0.97 ± 1.10, p < 0.0001). Hence, vast majority of patients with unconfirmed pulmonary nodules suffered various severity of anxiety and manifested as psychic anxiety. And gender, respiratory symptoms, family history of malignant tumour and diameter of pulmonary nodules were independent influencing factors of anxiety. Effective strategies urgently need exploring and providing for improving the mental health.