Patient Preference and Adherence (Mar 2023)

Factors Associated with Anxiety During COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Association with Hypertension in Saudi Arabia

  • Said B,
  • Gharawi MO,
  • Dallak FH,
  • Maashi AQ,
  • Hurissi E,
  • Gharawi SO,
  • Tarshi MM,
  • Hayyan AI,
  • Faqihi SA,
  • AlMusawa HI,
  • Hakami GM,
  • Alhazmi AH

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 17
pp. 905 – 912

Abstract

Read online

Badria Said, Maryam O Gharawi, Fatimah H Dallak, Afnan Q Maashi, Eman Hurissi, Sarah O Gharawi, Melia M Tarshi, Alanoud I Hayyan, Suzan A Faqihi, Hafiz I AlMusawa, Ghadah M Hakami, Abdulaziz H Alhazmi Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Abdulaziz H Alhazmi, Jazan University, Tel +966-7329-5000, Email [email protected]: Patients with chronic diseases such as hypertension (HTN) are considered a vulnerable group, and they are prone to anxiety and other psychological conditions during pandemics. Very few reports discussed factors related to anxiety and how it is associated with HTN during COVID-19 pandemic. In this project, we aimed to identify the prevalence of anxiety among hypertensive patients in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, and data were collected using an electronic self-administered pretested questionnaire distributed via trained data collectors. Data were analyzed using t-test and chi-test.Results: A total of 2135 participants were enrolled in this study. Anxiety was reported in 5% of all participants and 8% of the hypertensive participants. Older age, marital status, higher body mass index (BMI), smoking, and Khat chewing were strongly associated with anxiety among the general population. In addition, less adherence to medication made participants with HTN significantly more anxious.Conclusion: The prevalence of anxiety among hypertensive individuals is higher compared to the general population. Moreover, anxiety is significantly associated with some sociodemographic in the general population, and with less adherence to medications in hypertensive patients. Further studies with data from medical record including more variables are needed to highlight this association.Keywords: hypertension, anxiety, COVID-19, pandemic, Saudi Arabia

Keywords