Anxiety in parents of children with CHD

OBJECTIVES: The diagnosis of CHD not only affects the patient but also their entire environment, including parents, causing significant alterations in their mental health. This study was to assess the levels of anxiety and depression in parents of children with CHD at different stages of the disease. METHODS: The PMNCC and PMNCR questionnaires were administered to parents of children with CHD to measure levels of state anxiety (STAI-E) and trait anxiety (STAI-R). RESULTS: A total of 459 questionnaires were administered. For the state anxiety questionnaire (STAI-E), the mean score was 36, with high anxiety levels observed in 81.3% of participants and above-average levels in 18.7%. Regarding the severity of state anxiety, 82.6% presented severe anxiety, followed by moderate anxiety in 17.2%. For the trait anxiety questionnaire (STAI-R), the mean score was 43, with high levels observed in 91.5% of participants and above-average levels in 7.2%. Severe anxiety predominated in 96.7% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: The mental health of parents of children with CHD is often neither diagnosed nor adequately addressed in a timely manner by paediatric cardiology teams. Assessment and support from a multidisciplinary team are required for the early identification of these conditions.