988368
Thu, Jun 12, 2025
Accepted article
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1- babylon university
Abstract: (10 Views)
Objective
The aim of the current study was to quantify the anxiety level among post-ischemic stroke patients in Babylon Governorate, Iraq, and establish the correlation between anxiety severity and sociodemographic/clinical factors.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 post-ischemic stroke patients in Al-Imam Al Sadiq Teaching Hospital and Babylon Specialized Medical Rehabilitation Center (October 2024–July 2025). Anxiety severity was quantified on a modified Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) as mild (70–116.66), moderate (116.67–163.33), and severe (163.34–210). Sociodemographic (income, education, sex, age) and clinical data (chronic illness, smoking status) were collected using structured interviews. Association between variables was examined using multivariate logistic regression and chi-square tests to identify predictors of severe anxiety.
Results
Patients aged >65 years also had disproportionately high rates of severe anxiety (32.4%) when compared to their younger counterparts (15.6%), as indicated by a statistically significant chi-square analysis (χ² = 8.12, p = 0.043). Financial instability was also a cause for higher anxiety, with 37.5% of patients who had "insufficient" income reporting severe anxiety versus only 15.4% of patients who had "sufficient" income (p = 0.012). Clinically, chronically comorbid patients were 3.2 times more likely to experience severe anxiety (OR = 3.21, 95% CI: 1.45–7.12, p = 0.004), indicating the comorbidity of physical and psychological distress. Level of education was also significant: 28.6% of illiterates experienced severe anxiety compared to 13.6% for diploma and above levels (p = 0.041).
Discussion
The high prevalence of moderate-to-severe anxiety (87.2%) is consistent with global trends and highlights the need for universal mental health screening in post-stroke care. Independent predictors—advanced age, low income, and chronic disease burden—pinpoint vulnerable subgroups that require targeted interventions.
The aim of the current study was to quantify the anxiety level among post-ischemic stroke patients in Babylon Governorate, Iraq, and establish the correlation between anxiety severity and sociodemographic/clinical factors.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 post-ischemic stroke patients in Al-Imam Al Sadiq Teaching Hospital and Babylon Specialized Medical Rehabilitation Center (October 2024–July 2025). Anxiety severity was quantified on a modified Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) as mild (70–116.66), moderate (116.67–163.33), and severe (163.34–210). Sociodemographic (income, education, sex, age) and clinical data (chronic illness, smoking status) were collected using structured interviews. Association between variables was examined using multivariate logistic regression and chi-square tests to identify predictors of severe anxiety.
Results
Patients aged >65 years also had disproportionately high rates of severe anxiety (32.4%) when compared to their younger counterparts (15.6%), as indicated by a statistically significant chi-square analysis (χ² = 8.12, p = 0.043). Financial instability was also a cause for higher anxiety, with 37.5% of patients who had "insufficient" income reporting severe anxiety versus only 15.4% of patients who had "sufficient" income (p = 0.012). Clinically, chronically comorbid patients were 3.2 times more likely to experience severe anxiety (OR = 3.21, 95% CI: 1.45–7.12, p = 0.004), indicating the comorbidity of physical and psychological distress. Level of education was also significant: 28.6% of illiterates experienced severe anxiety compared to 13.6% for diploma and above levels (p = 0.041).
Discussion
The high prevalence of moderate-to-severe anxiety (87.2%) is consistent with global trends and highlights the need for universal mental health screening in post-stroke care. Independent predictors—advanced age, low income, and chronic disease burden—pinpoint vulnerable subgroups that require targeted interventions.
Article type: Original Research Articles |
Subject:
Nursing
Received: 2025/05/1 | Accepted: 2025/06/11
Received: 2025/05/1 | Accepted: 2025/06/11
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