Anxiety and death anxiety in adults with immediate-type drug hypersensitivity reactions: A case-control study
Makaleler > Tam Makale · 2026
Yazarlar: Onurcan YILDIRIM, S. Altay, C.T. Dalgıc, A. Okumus, R. Gumusburun, A.Z. Sin
Revue Française d'Allergologie, Uluslararası, Wos, 2026, cilt 66, ss 105018-105018
DOI: 10.1016/j.reval.2026.105018
Özet
Study objective Drug hypersensitivity reactions are often perceived as medically threatening events, yet death anxiety remains poorly characterized. We compared anxiety, depressive symptoms, and death anxiety in adults with a history consistent with immediate-type drug hypersensitivity reactions versus allergic rhinitis controls without drug allergy. Patients and methods Clinic-based case-control study (January 23–August 30, 2024). Ninety-six adults with a physician-recorded history consistent with drug hypersensitivity reactions and 96 allergic rhinitis controls without drug allergy were enrolled. Drug hypersensitivity reactions were classified based on structured clinical history supported by medical and emergency department records, considering prior allergy testing when available. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and death anxiety with the Templer Death Anxiety Scale. Group comparisons were performed using the Mann–Whitney U test. Adjusted analyses used general linear models controlling for age, sex, education, marital status, employment status, chronic/additional disease, and smoking/alcohol use. Results Compared with controls, the drug hypersensitivity group had higher anxiety and higher death anxiety (both P < 0.05), whereas depressive symptoms did not differ ( P = 0.455). Adjusted differences remained significant for anxiety (adjusted mean difference 1.35; P = 0.009) and death anxiety (1.04; P = 0.028) but not for depression ( P = 0.962). Conclusion Adults with a history consistent with drug hypersensitivity reactions had higher anxiety and death anxiety than controls, independent of key covariates. Incorporating brief psychological screening and targeted counseling into drug allergy evaluation may help address persistent fear and avoidance.