Factors associated with anxiety and depression in patients hospitalized in the Internal Medicine Department of a University Hospital in Paraguay: A case series

Abstract

Introduction: Hospitalization per se is associated with an increased risk of developing mental disorders, including depression and anxiety. Hospitalized patients with mental disorders have higher morbidity and mortality rates and a higher risk of readmission. Objective: To determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression and its association with clinical factors in a series of patients hospitalized in the Internal Medicine Department of a University Hospital in Paraguay. Methodology: Descriptive observational study, of case series, and non-probabilistic sampling were conducted by convenience. Patients hospitalized in the I Cátedra y Servicio de Clínica Médica of the School of Medical Sciences of the National University of Asuncion were included. Sociodemographic, clinical, and mental health variables were measured (the latter through the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS). Results: Fifteen patients were included (53.33 % were male). The mean age was 60.4±12.9 years. Endocrinopathies were the most frequent medical diagnosis (40 %). The mean length of stay of the patients in the hospital center was 14.33±10.32 days. Regarding mental health variables, 60.0 % of the sample showed symptoms of anxiety, whereas 86.7 % reported symptoms of depression. Positive and significant correlations were found between anxiety and days of hospitalization (r = 0.887, p = 0.000) and between depression and days of hospitalization (r = 0.89, p = 0.000). Conclusions: The present study provides valuable information on the mental health of patients hospitalized in a high-complexity center in Paraguay, highlighting the importance of considering the clinical factors of hospitalization itself when assessing the mental health of patients.