Pos0798-hpr prevalence of risk for anxiety and depression in patients with rheumatic diseases

Background Patients with chronic diseases have a higher prevalence of anxiety and depression. The complex relationship between chronic diseases and mental health disorders can influence each other negatively. (1) Objectives To determine anxiety and depression symptoms prevalence in an out-patient rheumatology clinic, and its associated factors. Methods This was a cross-sectional study. Patients > 16 years old with a rheumatologic disease were included. Data from medical history were collected. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was applied from March to November 2022. A score from 0-7 points is classified as low risk, 8-10 as intermediate risk, and >11 as high risk. Patients with high risk were referred to an evaluation by Psychiatry in the same clinic. We compared groups according to HADS scores using Kruskal-Wallis or Chi-square test. Results A total of 705 patients were included, 658 women, demographic characteristics in Table 1. Most common diagnosis was RA, followed by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). High anxiety risk was found in 125 patients, median disease duration of 6 years. Sixteen patients had high risk for depression, median disease duration of 10 years. Intermediate risk of depression was assessed in 15 patients, median disease duration of 10 years. We received 38 patients that accepted to be referred to a psychiatric evaluation. An association was found between high risk of anxiety and gender (p=0.019), no association was found with age or menopause. High risk of anxiety was more prevalent (n=125) than depression (n=16), and patients with intermediate risk for depression showed a higher prevalence of intermediate and high risk for anxiety (p=.000). Conclusion We found that high risk of anxiety was more prevalent than depression. Higher risk of anxiety was found in female patients. Almost 1 of every 5 patients with rheumatic diseases has an intermediate risk for anxiety. The implementation of a mental health screening tool can help patients receive earlier attention by a specialist. References [1]Hayward G, Mandela R, Barr A, Freeston J, Vandevelde C, Marzo-Ortega H. Counselling services embedded within rheumatology clinics could help bridge the gap in mental health care provision for adults with rheumatic diseases. Rheumatol Adv Pract. 2022;6(3):rkac080. [2]Maldonado G, Ríos C, Paredes C, Ferro C, Intriago MJ, Aguirre C, et al. Depression in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Revista Colombiana de Reumatología (English Edition). 2017;24(2):84-91. Table 1. Demographic, clinical and rheumatic disease characteristics. Characteristics HADS A low HADS A inter HADS A high p HADS D low HADS D inter HADS D high p (n= 477) (n=103) (n=125) (n= 674) (n=15) (n=16) Age, years, median (iQR) 51.0 (42.5-61.0) 51.0 (45.0-61.0) 56.0 (45.0-64.0) NS 52.0 (43.0-61.0) 60.0 (38.0-63.0) 59.5 (40.5-69.0) NS Women, n (%) 437 (91.6) 98 (95.1) 123 (98.4) 0.019 628 (93.1) 98 (100) 15 (93.7) NS Disease duration, years, mean 5.0 (1.0-10.0) 4.0 (1.00-10.0) 6.0 (2.25-12.0) NS 5.0 (1.0-10.0) 10.0 (1.00-20.0) 10.0 (4.25-20.0) NS Age of diagnose, years, median (iQR) 45 (32.0-53.5) 45.9 (35.0-54.0) 48.0 (37.0-56.7) NS 45.0 (33.5-54.0) 45.0 (31.0-59.0) 47.0 (28.3-58.5) NS Comorbidities, #, median (iQR) 0.0 (0.0-1.0) 0.0 (0.0-1.0) 0.0 (0.0-1.0) NS 0.0 (0.0-1.0) 1.0 (0.0-1.0) 1.0 (0.0-1.0) NS RA, n (%) 249 (52.2) 52 (50.4) 53 (42.4) NS 341 (50.5) 6 (40.0) 7 (43.7) NS LES, n (%) 67 (14.0) 12 (11.6) 15 (12.0) 89 (13.2) 1 (6.6) 4 (25.0) FM, n (%) 14 (2.9) 2 (1.9) 3 (2.4) 18 (2.6) 1 (6.6) 0 (0) SS, n (%) 10 (2.0) 4 (3.8) 5 (4.0) 18 (2.6) 1 (6.6) 0 (0) SCLERODERMA, n (%) 10 (2.0) 2 (1.9) 1 (0.8) 12 (1.7) 1 (6.6) 0 (0) OP, n (%) 15 (3.1) 2 (1.9) 7 (5.6) 22 (3.2) 1 (6.6) 1 (6.2) Overlap, n (%) 31 (6.4) 10 (9.7) 21 (16.8) 57 (8.4) 3 (20.0) 2 (12.5) Other, n (%) 81 (16.9) 19 (18.4) 19 (15.2) 116 (17.2) 1 (6.6) 2 (12.5) iQR interquartile range, RA reumathoid arthritis, SLE systemic lupus erytemathosus, FM fibromyalgia, SS Sjogren´s syndrome, OP osteopenia Disclosure of Interests None Declared.