Redacción Farmacosalud.com
A new multidisciplinary forum launched in Spain aims to improve understanding of the impact of anxiety on individuals living with chronic illnesses. The initiative, unique in the country, will focus on generating medical knowledge and providing relevant insights for the healthcare sector. Addressing anxiety in chronic disease is a growing public health concern, as these conditions are often linked to increased risk of mental health challenges.
Dr. Pedro Gil Gregorio
Fuente: Atrevia
According to Dr. Pedro Gil Gregorio, head of the Geriatrics Service at Hospital Clínico San Carlos in Madrid and coordinator of the new platform, anxiety associated with chronic diseases is often not systematically identified or treated in clinical practice. “That is precisely one of the problems we have detected, as many times that emotional impact is not quantified or adequately diagnosed, which makes its structured approach difficult,” he explained.
The forum brings together specialists from a range of disciplines including Family Medicine, Psychiatry, Geriatrics, Pulmonology, Neurology, Otolaryngology, Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Oncology, Pharmacy, and Nursing. These specialties are all involved in the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of prevalent chronic conditions such as cognitive impairment, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis.
Currently, when anxiety related to chronic conditions is detected, treatment is typically integrated into the patient’s overall care plan. This may include pharmacological interventions, referral to mental health services, or therapeutic adjustments based on the clinical situation. However, there is currently no standardized approach or specific protocols focused on anxiety associated with chronic illness. The forum aims to address this gap by generating evidence, clinical consensus, and practical recommendations.
“We believe it is necessary to generate evidence, clinical consensus, and practical recommendations that allow the evaluation of anxiety to be incorporated as a parameter in the follow-up of the chronic patient, at the same level as other clinical indicators,” Dr. Gil stated through www.farmacosalud.com.
Specific Conditions and Emotional Impact
Forum members have observed that certain diseases have a particularly strong association with feelings of anxiety or distress. For example, “oncological processes are a clear example, in which the evolutionary uncertainty and periodic reviews frequently generate anticipatory anxiety. Respiratory conditions like COPD, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases have also shown a significant relationship with anxious symptoms,” Dr. Gil specified.
The forum is also considering less-studied conditions that can still significantly impact a patient’s emotional well-being, such as vestibular disorders and other chronic conditions.
*trastornos vestibulares: alterations in the ear that cause dysfunctions in physical balance
Impact on Caregivers
These emotional states can also hinder treatment adherence, interaction with physicians, and the course of the disease. Conversely, the symptoms and limitations of chronic illnesses can increase anxiety levels. This bidirectional interaction is particularly relevant in neurological and degenerative conditions, where uncertainty about the progression of the disease and the resulting difficulties significantly affect the patient’s emotional well-being. Globally, approximately one in three adults lives with one or more chronic conditions, which are linked to a higher risk of mental health disorders like anxiety1-3.
The forum’s initiative is important because anxiety is a widespread issue affecting both those with chronic illnesses and their loved ones. However, these symptoms are not always identified, diagnosed, or quantified, making it difficult to measure their real impact on quality of life and clinical management.
“as we have pointed out in the Forum, anxiety is a transversal problem that not only affects the patient, but also their close environment. Those chronic pathologies with a prolonged evolution, clinical uncertainty or progressive functional deterioration tend to generate a greater emotional burden in the family environment,” Gil emphasized.
Rapid Screening Questionnaires
The new organization is pursuing three main objectives: research, through studies that provide valuable conclusions for the community; training, by publishing clinical consensus and practical recommendations; and dissemination, through actions that improve social understanding of anxiety and its impact on the lives of patients and caregivers. As a first step, the forum plans to design a prevalence study in outpatient patients using rapid screening questionnaires to quantify anxiety, identify diagnostic barriers, and evaluate the tools currently used in clinical practice.
“Our goal is to focus on analyzing the emotional burden related to chronic diseases, promote tools for early detection of anxiety in the clinic, and generate awareness materials aimed at both healthcare professionals and patients and caregivers,” Dr. Gil explained in a statement.
Autor/a: alexgeiger
Fuente: depositphotos.com
“When we talk about early detection tools, we refer, fundamentally, to simple, validated instruments that are easily applicable in habitual clinical practice. The key is not only to have the questionnaire, but also to incorporate the culture of measuring anxiety systematically. Just as we assess depression or functionality, we should incorporate anxiety as part of the integral clinical assessment of the chronic patient,” the physician added. The forum is currently analyzing various scales, with particular emphasis on brief questionnaires like the GAD-7, which allows for a rapid assessment of anxiety and can be integrated into both primary care and hospital consultations.
Chronic Illness is Not Exclusive to Older Adults
Regarding the patient profiles that will be evaluated, the forum coordinator clarified that anxiety associated with chronic illness is not exclusive to older adults, although the prevalence of chronic diseases “increases with age and, similarly, comorbidity is more frequent in the elderly population. However, anyone living with a chronic condition, regardless of age, can develop anxious symptoms. The key is not so much the age range itself, but the impact the disease has on the patient’s lifestyle, autonomy, and perception of the future.”
“Anxiety in chronic patients is a factor that often remains hidden and that, when identified, can modify clinical management and improve the quality of life of the affected subject. It is necessary to incorporate its approach into clinical practice with the same importance as other care parameters,” the expert insisted.
Developing a Digital Platform
The new organization is already working on creating its own digital platform aimed at healthcare professionals, with the goal of generating a structured space where all actions and materials developed will be progressively housed.
According to Dr. Gil, “this platform will be conceived as a reference point for the clinical field, integrating content such as practical decalogues, infographics, training materials and videos with the participation of the experts who are part of the multidisciplinary group. The intention is that it is not only a repository of information, but also a dynamic and lively environment that facilitates the updating of knowledge and supports professionals in the usual care of the chronic patient.”
References
1. Wang, T., Li, Z., Wei, Y., Zhang, X., Yuan, Q., Zhang, X., Li, X., & Lei, Q. (2025). Association between anxiety disorders and medication adherence in patients with cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. BMC Psychiatry, 25(1), 1005. Https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-07350-w
2. Chen Y, Wu C, Qian W. Underestimated anxiety in chronic diseases: A cross-sectional study on specific risk factors. Medicine (Baltimore). 2025 Mar 7;104(10):e41791. Doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000041791. PMID: 40068026; PMCID: PMC11902950.
3. Wijayanti, W., Wianti, S., Lismayanti, L., & Fitriani, A. (2025). The Impact of Psychosocial and Culturally Informed Care Approaches on Patient Adaptation in Degenerative Diseases: A Systematic Review. JURNAL VNUS (Vocational Nursing Sciences), 7(2), 154-173. Https://doi.org/10.52221/jvnus.v7i2.935
