Anxiety in the preoperative period of heart surgery.

Objective: to characterize the patients’ anxiety in the preoperative period of heart surgery. Method: We conducted a cross-sectional study in which 106 patients, between one and fi ve days from the date of surgery, were interviewed using a socio-demographic questionnaire and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Results: The evaluated patients accounted for 59.4% (63) in minimal anxiety and 19.8% (21) in the range considered severe, and the sample had a mean in the mild anxiety level (15.8±19.79). The women had scores (22.13±23.41) signifi cantly (p=0.003) higher than men (10.76±14.71); as well as patients who had undergone previous heart surgery (24.4±28.05 X 13.14±15.74). There was no signifi cant difference between older adults and younger patients, nor in terms of weight variations, presence of diabetes, or alcoholism. Conclusion: We reinforces the importance of nurses in recognizing the preoperative anxiety and intervene through strategies of health education and nursing visits.