Quality of life in dysphagia and anxiety and depression symptoms pre and post-thyroidectomy

Abstract

Purpose To correlate the dysphagia quality of life and symptoms of anxiety and depression before and after thyroidectomy. Methods Observational, longitudinal, prospective, and experimental study. Twenty patients participated, with a mean age of 54 years, prevalence of females (n=17; 85%) and partial thyroidectomy (n=14; 70%). All subjects underwent laryngeal visual examination and answered the MD Anderson Dysphagia Questionnaire (MDADI) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in three different moments: preoperatively, immediately postoperatively (maximum one week) and three months after surgery. Results There was a significant difference in dysphagia quality of life for the physical and total domains in the three different moments. Regarding anxiety and depression, a statistically significant difference was observed between the scores in all domains, with a greater difference observed between the preoperative period and after 1 week. Higher values were observed in the preoperative period for mild anxiety traits, being more frequent in relation to depression, with a reduction after 1 week and an increase after three months of surgery. There was no significant correlation between the MDADI and HADS protocols. Conclusion Patients undergoing thyroidectomy self-report better quality of life in dysphagia and reduced anxiety/depression scores after three months of surgery. There was no correlation between anxiety, depression and quality of life in dysphagia at the moments evaluated.