High Anxiety Levels before Elective Cesarean Section Can Negatively Affect the Mother and Fetus

Abstract

Background: Both pregnancy and surgery cause anxiety. This situation may negatively affect the health of the mother and baby.

Aim: The effect of anxiety level before cesarean section (CS) on feto-maternal outcomes was investigated.

Methods: The preoperative anxiety score was determined with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) in 224 pregnant women who were planned for elective CS.

Results: Among patients, 33.5% were in the low anxiety group, 27.2% in the moderate, and 39.3% in the high anxiety group. The average birth weight in the low anxiety group was noticeably higher than that of the high anxiety group (P = 0.018). The mean heart rate at postop 1st and 24th hour in the high anxiety group was higher than the moderate anxiety group (P < 0.028). In addition, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at the sixth hour in the low anxiety group was found to be lower than in the moderate anxiety group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: According to these results, it was found that an increased anxiety score before CS is associated with low birth weight in the baby, higher heart rate, and DBP in the mother.