Factors related to depression and anxiety in adults with bronchiectasis

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic lung diseases frequently have depressive and anxiety symptoms, but there are very few studies looking at this in patients with bronchiectasis. AIM: This study aimed to investigate depression and anxiety and related factors among patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective study of 133 patients with bronchiectasis. Patients with confirmed diagnosis of bronchiectasis with high-resolution computed tomography were enrolled in the study. Patients that were clinically stable in the previous 4 weeks were evaluated with the Hospital Depression and Anxiety scale. Symptoms, pulmonary function tests, and medical treatments were recorded. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 49.5±14.5 years (range, 18–77 years), and 81 (60.9%) patients were females. Twenty-eight (21.1%) patients had depression, and 53 (39.8%) had anxiety. Depression score was related to family situation (living with a partner), previous depression history and admission to an emergency department within the last year. Anxiety score was related to female gender, the family situation (living with a partner), previous depression history, and admission to an emergency department within the last year (P<0.05). Depression was positively correlated with hemoptysis, admission to an emergency department within the last year and living with a partner. Anxiety was positively correlated with education level, previous depression history, admission to an emergency department within the last year, and living with a partner. CONCLUSION: Patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis are at increased risk for depression and anxiety. Untreated and undetected depressive/anxiety symptoms may increase physical disability, morbidity, and health care utilization. It is important for clinicians to be aware of the presence of depression and anxiety in bronchiectasis.