Prevalence of anxiety in patients admitted to a university hospital in southern Brazil and associated factors

To identify the prevalence of anxiety in adults hospitalized in the clinical ward of a university hospital and to analyze the possible associated factors. A cross-sectional study was performed in a university hospital. All interviewees answered a specific questionnaire and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. A Poisson regression was used to calculate prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals. 282 patients were enrolled. The prevalence of anxiety was 33.7% (95%CI 28.2 - 39.3). Characteristics associated with the outcome were female gender (RP 2.44), age ≥ 60 years (PR 0.65), consultation in primary health care (PR 2.37), estimated time of contact between patient and student > 30 min (RP 1.36), high blood pressure (PR 1.57), diabetes mellitus (PR 1.43), and obesity (RP 1.43). This study found prevalence of high anxiety. It may be associated with certain characteristics of the patients (gender, age, chronic diseases); the medical appointment in primary care and time (estimated by the patient) that the student remained with this patient. The need for a focused approach to mental health care within the hospital has been discussed for a long time. The particularity of this study refers to the environment of a university hospital and to what extent the environment and the patient's relationship with the student are associated with higher prevalence of anxiety.