Prevalence of anxiety, depression and associated risk factors in gastroenterology outpatients: a multicenter cross-sectional study

Anxiety and depression are closely related to digestive system diseases. However, anxiety and depression in gastroenterology outpatients are not consistently recognized or managed. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of anxiety, depression and associated risk factors in gastroenterology outpatients. We conducted a cross-sectional study from June 2021 to June 2022 in the gastroenterology outpatients of three central hospitals. Professional researchers at each center collected data from patients through face-to-face interviews using a questionnaire. The Hamilton Anxiety Scale, Hamilton Depression Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were respectively used to assess anxiety, depression and sleep quality. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to identify associated risk factors. A total of 931 patients were finally included for analysis. The overall detection rates of anxiety and depression were 26.5% and 12.2%, respectively. Gastroesophageal reflux (AOR:1.559, 95%CI:1.084–2.244), dyspepsia (AOR:2.194, 95%CI:1.302–3.696), bile reflux (AOR:3.509, 95%CI:2.413–5.103), atrophic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia or intraepithelial neoplasia (AOR:3.814, 95%CI:1.399–10.402), biliary tract disease (AOR:1.584, 95%CI:1.042–2.410), liver disease (AOR:2.401, 95%CI:1.073–5.374), and poor sleep (AOR:5.578, 95%CI:3.859–8.063) were significantly associated with anxiety. Bile reflux (AOR:5.409, 95%CI:3.190–9.173), liver disease (AOR:3.177, 95%CI:1.183–8.531), and poor sleep (AOR:8.572, 95%CI:4.952–14.840) were significantly associated with depression. Physical exercise time ≥ 150 min/week (AOR:0.550, 95%CI:0.324–0.934) was inversely associated with depression. Anxiety and depression were prevalent among gastroenterology outpatients. Gastroenterologists should pay close attention to the psychological status of patients, especially those with gastroesophageal reflux, dyspepsia, bile reflux, atrophic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia or intraepithelial neoplasia, biliary tract disease, liver disease, and poor sleep.