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Journals / Journal of Anatolian Medical Research / 2026 / Cilt: 11 Sayı: 2

Determinants of Death Anxiety Following Ischemic Stroke: A Cross-Sectional Study

İskemik İnme Sonrası Ölüm Anksiyetesinin Belirleyicileri: Kesitsel Bir Çalışma

Sinem Kübra Beke(Erciyes Üniversitesi)0000-0002-4445-0551
Abdurrahman Şahin(kayseri city hospital)0009-0004-6881-8164
Büşra Uçar Bostan(UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES, İSTANBUL BAKIRKÖY PROF. DR. MAZHAR OSMAN APPLICATION AND RESEARCH CENTER FOR PSYCHIATRIC AND NERVE DISEASES)0000-0002-8639-2302
Havva Talay Çaliş(kayseri city hospital)0000-0002-8897-8921
Pages
37–44
Publication Date
2026-08-31
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Anxiety was independently associated with elevated death anxiety, highlighting the importance of routine psychological assessment and targeted interventions during rehabilitation.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of death anxiety in patients following ischemic stroke and to identify the clinical and psychological factors associated with death anxiety.
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Key Findings & Data:Materials and Methods: The study population comprised 87 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of ischemic stroke, at least three months post-stroke, and a Standardized Mini-Mental Test (SMMT) score greater than 23.
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Conclusion & Impact:Anxiety was independently associated with elevated death anxiety, highlighting the importance of routine psychological assessment and targeted interventions during rehabilitation.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:depresyon · İskemik inme · ölüm anksiyetesi

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of death anxiety in patients following ischemic stroke and to identify the clinical and psychological factors associated with death anxiety. Materials and Methods: The study population comprised 87 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of ischemic stroke, at least three months post-stroke, and a Standardized Mini-Mental Test (SMMT) score greater than 23. Activities of daily living were assessed using the Barthel Index. Anxiety and depression levels were evaluated with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), sleep quality with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and death anxiety with the Thorson–Powell Death Anxiety Scale. Results: The mean age of the participants was 61.8 ± 10.5 years, and 21.8% were female. Death anxiety was present in 33.3% of patients. Patients with high death anxiety had significantly higher anxiety, depression, and poor sleep quality scores (p<0.05). In multivariate analysis, anxiety was the only factor independently associated with high death anxiety (OR=1.317; 95% CI=1.121– 1.547; p = 0.001). Conclusion: Approximately one-third of patients experience high death anxiety following ischemic stroke. Anxiety was independently associated with elevated death anxiety, highlighting the importance of routine psychological assessment and targeted interventions during rehabilitation.

Özet

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, iskemik inme sonrası hastalarda ölüm anksiyetesi prevalansını belirlemek ve ölüm anksiyetesi ile ilişkili klinik ve psikolojik faktörleri araştırmaktır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışmaya, en az üç ay önce iskemik inme tanısı almış ve Standardize Mini Mental Test (SMMT) puanı 23’ün üzerinde olan 87 hasta dahil edildi. Günlük yaşam aktiviteleri Barthel İndeksi ile değerlendirildi. Anksiyete ve depresyon düzeyleri Hastane Anksiyete ve Depresyon Ölçeği (HADÖ), uyku kalitesi Pittsburgh Uyku Kalitesi İndeksi (PUKİ) ve ölüm anksiyetesi Thorson–Powell Ölüm Anksiyetesi Ölçeği kullanılarak değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Katılımcıların yaş ortalaması 61,8 ± 10,5 yıl olup, %21,8’i kadındı. Hastaların %33,3’ünde yüksek düzeyde ölüm anksiyetesi saptandı. Yüksek ölüm anksiyetesi bulunan hastalarda anksiyete, depresyon ve kötü uyku kalitesi skorları anlamlı olarak daha yüksekti (p<0,05). Çok değişkenli analizde, anksiyete ölüm anksiyetesinin tek bağımsız belirleyicisi olarak bulundu (OR=1,317; %95 GA=1,121–1,547; p=0,001). Sonuç: İskemik inme sonrası hastaların yaklaşık üçte birinde yüksek düzeyde ölüm anksiyetesi görülmektedir. Anksiyete, ölüm anksiyetesinin başlıca bağımsız belirleyicisi olup, rehabilitasyon sürecinde rutin psikolojik değerlendirmelerin ve hedefe yönelik müdahalelerin önemini ortaya koymaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Beke, S. K., Şahin, A., Bostan, B. U., Çaliş, H. T. (2026). Determinants of Death Anxiety Following Ischemic Stroke: A Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Anatolian Medical Research, Cilt: 11 Sayı: 2, 37–44. https://doi.org/10.55694/jamer.1981783

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