Prevalence of Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients and General Population

Emerging evidence suggests significant influence of comorbid anxiety on COPD. Several studies have reported a high prevalence of anxiety in COPD, but the rates vary widely. Review articles have reported the prevalence of GAD is 10% 15.8% in COPD patients compared to 3.6% 5.1% in the general public. We aim to study the prevalence of GAD in COPD patients and general population. Patients of COPD was diagnosed according to GOLD criteria and common people above 18 years of age were screened for prevalence of GDA by filling a brief questionnaire of 7-Item (GAD-7). Score of <5 were diagnosed as normal, mild anxiety 5 to 9, moderate anxiety-10 to 14. Severe anxiety 15 to 21 and data was analyzed. 300 common people and 278 COPD patients were studied. 66.0% common people and 80.2% COPD patients suffered from GAD (score of >5) which was extremely significant statistically (p=0.00012). In common people mild, moderate and sever GAD was observed in 29%, 18.6% and 18.4% respectively and 41.0%, 20.5% and 18.7% respectively in COPD patients and this difference was statistically significant for mild GAD and statistically insignificant for moderate and sever GAD. We conclude that prevalence of GAD is significantly high in COPD patients as compared to common people and further studies are needed to explore the causes, effects and prevalence of GAD in a larger population.