Mastalgia, anxiety and related factors: case-control study

Abstract

Objective: To compare anxiety levels of women presenting with mastalgia with control group, and also to determine possible risk factors.

Methods: Women attended to out-patient clinics of Family Medicine, Gynecology and Surgery with complaint of mastalgia were included in case group, women having no problem or breast complaints were included in the control group of the study. Personal information form was used for information about socio-demographic characteristics, medical, obstetric and gynecological history, family history of breast cancer, medications used, smoking, breast feeding, breast self-examination practice. Beck Anxiety Scale was used to assess anxiety disorder.

Results: A hundred and two women were included in case group and 102 women in control group. No significant differences were detected between groups in terms of menstrual period, menopause and breast self-examination practice. However, in case group marital status (p<0.001), parity (p=0.007), breast feeding (p=0.017) and family history for breast cancer (p=0.009) were significantly higher than control group. Smoking was significantly higher in control group than case group (p=0.001). Mean anxiety scores of case group were higher than control group (p=0.049). Marital status (p=0.021, OR=2.95 [%95 CI=1.1-7.4]), smoking (p=0.001, OR=3.15 [%95 CI=1.6-6.0]) and anxiety (p=0.009, OR=0.95 [%95 CI=0.9-0.9]) were found to be related to mastalgia.

Conclusions: It is important to assess women presenting with mastalgia, in terms of anxiety disorder.