Background/objective: It has been suggested that patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) often present depression and anxiety. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms in Mexican patients with RA and to determine associated factors of depression and anxiety in this population.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. We evaluated demographic characteristics, medical comorbidities, substance use, and disease characteristics in 103 patients with RA. Patients were enrolled from March 2016 to August 2017 The prevalence of depression and anxiety was estimated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. We calculated the proportion of depression and anxiety symptoms and compared characteristics between groups. Finally, logistic regression model was used to determine the factors associated with depression and anxiety.
Results: Depression symptoms were present in 26.2% of patients, whereas anxiety symptoms were present in 16.5% of patients. Presence of hypertension was an associated factor with depression (odds ratio [OR], 3.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-9.23; p = 0.03). Low socioeconomic (OR, 3.78; 95% CI, 1.39-10.28; p = 0.009) and high scores of 28-joint Disease Activity Score were associated with anxiety (OR, 3.19; 95% CI, 1.20-8.45; p = 0.02).
Conclusions: Factor related to socioeconomic conditions, comorbid medical conditions, and disease activity were related to the presence of clinical depression and anxiety in Mexican patients with RA, which may have a negative impact in the course and outcome of the disease. We suggest an early identification of depression and anxiety in these patients through an early psychiatric evaluation.