ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to find out the level of death anxiety among 3 groups: patients with acute myocardial infarction, patients with cancer and healthy individuals in two training and research hospitals; also to evaluate its relationship with several sociodemographic and clinical variables.Materials and methodThis study was conducted with one hundred and eighty persons (108 male, 72 female) who have been referred to cardiology or oncology departments and the healthy individuals. Participants completed sociodemographic and clinical data form, State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-I, STAI-II), Thorson Powell Death Anxiety Scale (TPDAS), Death Depression Scale (DDS).ResultsParticipants included in the present study were 40% female with an average age of 53.48 for whole group. The mean TPDAS score for patients with AMI was 51.60 ± 16.40, for patients with cancer 37.10 ± 10.23 and for healthy individuals 43.40 ± 13.35. In AMI group there were positive correlations between STAI-I and TPDAS, DDS scores and also between STAI-II and DDS. In cancer group positive correlations were between STAI-I, II and TPDAS, DDS. TPDAS and DDS were positively correlated in all three groups. Women and participants who were unemployed scored higher on DDS.ConclusionIn this study patients with AMI had higher death anxiety than patients with cancer or healthy individuals. Generally death anxiety was related with education, employment and socioeconomic status. Prospective studies carefully searching for different variables in different medical groups would reveal and help us to understand the importance of death anxiety and its impact on courses of physical and mental disorders.

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ÖzetBu çalışmanın amacı acil serviste kan gazı elektrolit ve glukoz değerlerinin biyokimyasal elektrolit ve glukoz değerleri yerine kullanılabilirliğini araştırmaktır. Uludağ Üniversitesi Acil servisine Temmuz 2011 ile Ekim 2011 tarihleri arasında başvuran ve acil serviste kan gazı bakılan 18 yaş ve üzeri 1007 hastadan; kan gazı elektrolit ve glukoz ile biyokimyasal elektrolit ve glukoz değerlerinin bakıldığı grup çalışmaya alınmıştır. AbstractIt is aimed to investigate the utility of blood gas electrolyte and glucose values in place of biochemical electrolyte and glucose values in Emergency Department (ED). The group of patients, whose blood gas electrolyte , glucose and also biochemical electrolyte and glucose values were examined, These data were derived from 1007 patients at the age of 18 and older, who were admitted to Uludag University ED and whose blood gas values were examined between July 2011 and October 2011. While biochemistry K+ median was 4,2 mmol/L, blood gas K+ median was 3,86 mmol/L. When blood gas and biochemical K+ values were compared, average difference was -0,4 mmol/L (95% confidence limits: -1,5-0,7 mmol/L) and correlation coefficient was r=0.794 (p<0.001). Biochemistry Na+ median was 136 mmol/L whereas blood gas Na+ median was 138,6 mmol/L. When blood gas and biochemical Na+ values compared, average difference was 2,7 mmol/L (95% confidence limits: -3,8-9,2 mmol/L) and correlation coefficient was (r=0.836 p<0,001). Biochemistry glucose median was found out as 125,5 mg/dl whereas blood gas median was 147 mg/dl. When blood gas and biochemical glucose values were compared, average difference was 17,3 mg/dl, (95% confidence limits: -72,3-106,9 mg/dl), correlation coefficient was (r=0,904 p<0,001). Significantly positive correlation was determined between results. When blood gas electrolyte and glucose values compared with biochemical values, it was seen that they were consistent with each other. Blood gas values, which are rapid tests, might be used -especially in case of emergency, in treatment of critical patients -until biochemical values are obtained.

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