Relationship between anxiety and depressive symptoms and social support in patients with atrial fibrillation.

OBJECTIVES

to analyze the relationship between anxiety and depressive symptoms and social support in patients with atrial fibrillation.

METHODS

a descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted with 102 participants. Data were collected using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey. Descriptive statistics and Spearman's rank correlation were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

the median anxiety score was 8.0 (interquartile range [IQR] 7-11), and the median depression score was 6.0 (IQR 3-10). Anxiety symptoms were identified in 60.8% of participants and depressive symptoms in 38.2%. Inverse correlations were observed between depressive symptoms and affectionate support, emotional/informational support, and positive social interaction. No associations were found between anxiety symptoms and social support.

CONCLUSIONS

higher levels of affectionate and emotional/informational support and positive social interaction were associated with lower depressive symptom scores.