Anxiety severity among adults having upper gastrointestinal symptoms: Proportion and predictors – A cross-sectional study

Anxiety is common in upper GI disorders and yet data from India is lacking. Therefore, it is of interest to document the proportion and predictors of severity of anxiety in adults with upper GI symptoms. In this cross-sectional study from a tertiary hospital in Bhopal, India, exit interviews of patients >18 years age, with upper GI symptoms were conducted using semi-structured tools. Out of 500 participants, 16.6% had minimal, 16% mild, 53.4% moderate 14% had severe anxiety as per GAD-7 criteria. Being aged 65 and above, married, employed, vegetarian, high likelihood of GERD were predictors, whereas, higher socio-economic status and alcohol consumption were protective against moderate to severe anxiety. Collaborative care models focused on targeted screening for anxiety among these patients is need of the hour.