Primary Hyperhidrosis and Anxiety: a Prospective Preoperative Survey of 158 Patients

TO determine the location of hyperhidrosis, the accompanying signs and symptoms, and patient anxiety assessed on 2 scales and standardized psychometric instruments. A prospective study of patients with hyperhidrosis was carried out between September 1, 2001 and June 30, 2003 with a self-administered preoperative questionnaire. The variables studied included the location of hyperhidrosis, the accompanying signs and symptoms, and the self-reported degree of anxiety and perception of its effect on daily life assessed by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and a questionnaire designed in our department. Palmar hyperhidrosis was reported by 93.6% of patients, plantar by 70.2%, axillary by 66.4%, facial by 12.1%, groin by 8.2%, chest by 5%, and abdominal by 2%. While more than 50% of the patients reported facial blushing and palpitations as accompanying signs and symptoms, approximately 30% experienced epigastric pain, trembling, and headaches. Over half of the patients reported that their anxiety was incapacitating, and a mere 1.2% experienced none at all. STAI scores were similar to those of the general population whereas scores on our department's questionnaire reflected those of the self-reported anxiety ratings. Primary hyperhidrosis is a disorder in which excessive sweating occurs mainly, but not exclusively, on the palms. The condition is accompanied by signs and symptoms typical of autonomic nervous system hyperactivity and by a degree of anxiety that has an incapacitating effect on normal life, although that anxiety is not detected by the STAI questionnaire alone. Determinar la localización de la hiperhidrosis, la clínica acom pa ñante y la ansiedad que refieren los pacientes tanto subjetivamente como mediante instrumentos psicométricos estandarizados. Estudio prospectivo realizado en-tre el 1 de septiembre de 2001 y el 30 de junio de 2003 mediante una encuesta autoadministrada preoperatoria a los pacientes con hiperhidrosis. Las variables de estudio fueron: localización de la hiperhidrosis, clínica acompañante, ansiedad subjetiva y percepción de ésta en la vida diaria mediante el cuestionario Escala de Ansiedad Estado-Rasgo (STAI) y un cuestionario elaborado por nuestro servicio. La localización de la hiperhidrosis fue palmar en el 93,6% de los pacientes, plantar en el 70,2%, axilar en el 66,4%, facial en el 12,1%, inguinal en el 8,2%, pectoral en un 5% y abdominal en un 2%. En cuanto a la clínica acompañante, el enrojecimiento facial y las palpit