Uruguayan Study Finds High Rates of Anxiety and Depression in Hospitalized Patients

A recent study conducted by the Faculty of Medicine at Uruguay's University of the Republic has revealed significant levels of anxiety and depression among patients admitted to the Hospital de Clínicas. The research highlights that these mental health conditions are common and contribute to increased emotional distress and complications during illness.

The investigation found that over four in ten hospitalized patients, specifically 45.46%, exhibited symptoms of anxiety. Depression was less prevalent but still notable, detected in 23.78% of patients between July and October 2024. These figures were based on the HADS scale, administered with informed consent.

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frequent and are associated with greater emotional suffering and difficulties in the course of the disease

A notable finding of the study was the gender disparity in reported symptoms. Anxiety was significantly more common in women (61.1%) than in men (36%). Similarly, depression affected 25.3% of women compared to 22.4% of men. This indicates a wider gap in anxiety prevalence between sexes than in depression.

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more than four out of ten patients (45.46%) had symptoms of anxiety. Meanwhile, depression was at a lower level: it was detected in less than a quarter (23.78%) of the people admitted

Researchers noted that previous studies have suggested women tend to express emotional distress through psychosocial stress, while men may manifest it through physical symptoms or relational issues. However, prior Uruguayan research had not found statistically significant gender differences in anxiety and depression rates.

The study also points out that mental health often takes a backseat to specialized medical care in hospital settings, despite hospitalization being a significant stressor that can exacerbate or trigger anxiety and depressive symptoms, particularly for those with pre-existing psychiatric conditions or chronic illnesses. Barriers such as access issues, stigma, lack of systematic psychological evaluation protocols, and resource concentration in Montevideo hinder comprehensive mental health care, as identified in previous national studies.

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anxiety was more frequent in women (61.1%) than in men (36%). On the other hand, depression affected 25.3% of women and 22.4% of men

Interestingly, the research observed a higher prevalence of anxious and depressive symptoms in patients with hospital stays between 16 and 30 days, although this difference was not statistically significant. This pattern aligns with previous studies at the Hospital de Clínicas in 2018, 2019, and 2020, which also suggested a weak association between hospitalization duration and emotional symptoms. These findings are consistent with international evidence indicating that prolonged hospital stays are a risk factor for developing anxiety and depression.

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in the hospital context, mental health often takes a back seat to specialized medical care, despite the fact that hospitalization is a stress factor that can aggravate or precipitate anxious and depressive symptoms