ANXIETY AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOM BURDEN AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH FUNCTIONAL IMPAIRMENT IN PULMONARY FIBROSIS IN GREECE
Author(s)
Garyfallia Stefanou, MSc1, Stylianos Ravanidis, PhD1, Maria Thanou, Patient Representative2, Fragkiskos Diamantis, Patient Representative2, Elena Magafa, Patient Representative2, Georgia Kourlaba, PhD3.
1ECONCARE LP, Athens, Greece, 2Hellenic Pulmonary Fibrosis Association “Lungs of Life”, Athens, Greece, 3Department of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
1ECONCARE LP, Athens, Greece, 2Hellenic Pulmonary Fibrosis Association “Lungs of Life”, Athens, Greece, 3Department of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
OBJECTIVES: To describe anxiety and depressive symptom burden among people with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) in Greece and explore associations with functional impairment.
METHODS: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted by the Hellenic Pulmonary Fibrosis Association “Lungs of Life” among adults with PF between May and June 2026. Due to disease-related limitations, questionnaires could be completed either by patients themselves or by caregivers on behalf of patients. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed using the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 instruments, respectively. Moderate-to-severe anxiety and depressive symptoms were defined as GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores ≥10, respectively. Patient-level data also included diagnosis group, oxygen-device use and the activity-impairment component of the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire. Categorical variables are reported as n (%) and continuous as median (Q1-Q3). Multivariable logistic regression explored factors associated with moderate-to-severe depressive and anxiety symptoms, adjusting for activity impairment, oxygen-device use, age, sex, diagnosis group and respondent type.
RESULTS: Among 163 participants, 65.0% reported idiopathic PF and 35.0% other PF. Questionnaires were completed by patients themselves in 104 cases (63.8%) and by caregivers on behalf of patients in 59 (36.2%). GAD-7 data were available for 147 respondents, with a median score 7.0 (2.0-12.0); moderate-to-severe anxiety symptoms were reported by 51/147 (34.7%). PHQ-9 data were available for 146 respondents, with a median score 9.0 (4.0-14.0); moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms were reported by 67/146 (45.9%). After adjustment, each 10-percentage-point increase in activity impairment was associated with higher odds of moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms (OR=1.54; 95% CI: 1.23-1.94) and anxiety symptoms (OR=1.54; 95% CI: 1.20-1.98).
CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety and depressive symptoms were frequent among people with PF in Greece and were associated with greater activity impairment after adjustment for clinical and demographic factors. Psychological burden should be considered alongside clinical and functional outcomes in disease burden assessments.
METHODS: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted by the Hellenic Pulmonary Fibrosis Association “Lungs of Life” among adults with PF between May and June 2026. Due to disease-related limitations, questionnaires could be completed either by patients themselves or by caregivers on behalf of patients. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed using the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 instruments, respectively. Moderate-to-severe anxiety and depressive symptoms were defined as GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores ≥10, respectively. Patient-level data also included diagnosis group, oxygen-device use and the activity-impairment component of the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaire. Categorical variables are reported as n (%) and continuous as median (Q1-Q3). Multivariable logistic regression explored factors associated with moderate-to-severe depressive and anxiety symptoms, adjusting for activity impairment, oxygen-device use, age, sex, diagnosis group and respondent type.
RESULTS: Among 163 participants, 65.0% reported idiopathic PF and 35.0% other PF. Questionnaires were completed by patients themselves in 104 cases (63.8%) and by caregivers on behalf of patients in 59 (36.2%). GAD-7 data were available for 147 respondents, with a median score 7.0 (2.0-12.0); moderate-to-severe anxiety symptoms were reported by 51/147 (34.7%). PHQ-9 data were available for 146 respondents, with a median score 9.0 (4.0-14.0); moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms were reported by 67/146 (45.9%). After adjustment, each 10-percentage-point increase in activity impairment was associated with higher odds of moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms (OR=1.54; 95% CI: 1.23-1.94) and anxiety symptoms (OR=1.54; 95% CI: 1.20-1.98).
CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety and depressive symptoms were frequent among people with PF in Greece and were associated with greater activity impairment after adjustment for clinical and demographic factors. Psychological burden should be considered alongside clinical and functional outcomes in disease burden assessments.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
PCR199
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health, Patient-Centered Research, Study Approaches
Topic Subcategory
Patient Behavior and Incentives, Patient-reported Outcomes & Quality of Life Outcomes
Disease
Rare & Orphan Diseases, Respiratory-Related Disorders (Allergy, Asthma, Smoking, Other Respiratory)