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P.323 Anxiety and depression in hispanic patients with systemic sclerosis

jsrd · 2026-06-05 · canonical JSON source

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Introduction Systemic sclerosis is characterized by multi organ involvement, causing progressive and chronic deterioration in patients; this leads to the development of physical and psychological stress. The correlation between symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with sclerosis is 48–50%; however, the studies that have evaluated this are limited. This study aims to evaluate the correlation between anxiety and depression in a cohort of patients with systemic sclerosis.Material and Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in patients with a confirmed diagnosis of scleroderma. The Hospital Anxiety (HADS-A) and Depression (HADS-D) Scale was used to assess anxiety and depression. A descriptive analysis of the variables of interest was performed. Independent groups were compared using Student’s t-test or Mann–Whitney U, depending on normality, and correlations were performed using Spearman’s test.Results A total of 29 patients were included, all women (100%). The mean age was 53.52 ± 15.19 years. The most frequent clinical subtype was limited scleroderma in 21 cases (72.4%), while the diffuse form was present in 8 cases (27.6%). Patients with the limited subtype had a mean age of 50.29 ± 15.61 years, whereas those with the diffuse subtype had a mean of 62.00 ± 10.61 years, showing a trend towards higher age in the latter group (p = 0.062). The total scores of the HADS-A scale had a median of 6 (IQR: 1–6), and for the HADS-D scale, 3 (IQR: 1–3). In the evaluation of anxiety, 7 patients (24.1%) showed no risk, 10 (34.5%) low, 5 (17.2%) intermediate, and 7 (24.1%) high. Regarding depression: 7 patients (24.1%) showed no risk, 18 (62.1%) low, 2 (6.9%) intermediate, and 2 (6.9%) high. No significant differences were found between patients with limited and diffuse sclerosis in depression scores (U = 52.50, p = 0.126) or anxiety scores (U = 87.00, p = 0.902). A positive and significant correlation was found between anxiety and depression scores (rho = 0.673; p < 0.001), indicating that higher levels of anxiety were associated with higher levels of depression. Age showed no significant correlation with depression scores (rho = –0.141; p = 0.465), or anxiety scores (rho = –0.053; p = 0.784).Conclusions In patients with systemic sclerosis, a significant association between anxiety and depression was identified, independent of age and clinical form. These findings highlight the need for comprehensive assessment and management of both psychological conditions in all patients.