Highlights
- •The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between oxygen saturation changes and anxiety during MRI examinations.
- •Spielberger State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to determine the degree of anxiety.
- •Lower oxygen saturation levels during MRI compared to pre- and post-MRI levels were found to be statistically significant.
- •The oxygen saturation decreased in almost all patients who undergo MRI, even if it is only slight.
- •No statistically significant relationship was detected between pre- and post-MRI STAI scores.
- •There was no significant correlation between saturation levels and STAI scores.
Abstract
Purpose
To prospectively examine the possible relationship between oxygen saturation changes
and anxiety during MRI examinations.
Material and Methods
One hundred and fifty randomly-selected patients referred to our department for MRI
examination were included. Participants were asked to complete the Spielberger State
and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) to monitor subjective evaluation of anxiety. Both
state (STAIs) and trait (STAIt) anxiety levels were recorded as pre-MRI scores. Following
the inventory, oxygen saturation levels were measured before, during and immediately
after an MRI scan. The patients completed the STAI again immediately following the
procedure, and the post-MRI scores were recorded. The scan duration and examined body
part were also noted.
Results
Ninty-one patients (60.7%) were female and 59 (39.3%) were male. Mean age was 43.68 ± 15.59 years.
One hundred and thirty-one of them were head-first examinations, while 19 of them
were foot-first, in reference to position on the table. Statistically significant
relationships were found between pre- and mid-MRI oxygen saturation levels and mid-
and post-MRI oxygen saturation levels. Additionally, mid-MRI saturation levels were
significantly lower compared to pre- and post-MRI saturation levels (p = .001 for both measurements). The mean pre-MRI STAIs score was 35.6 ± 10.14, while
the mean post-MRI score was 36.45 ± 9.92. The mean pre-MRI STAIt score was 44.01 ± 7.76,
and post-MRI score was 44.39 ± 7.75 in the study group. There was no statistically
significant relationship between pre- and post-MRI STAI scores. No significant correlation
was found between oxygen saturation levels and STAI scores.
Conclusion
To investigate a possible relationship between oxygen saturation changes during MRI
examinations and MRI-induced anxiety, we designed a prospective study. We detected
statistically significant lower oxygen saturation levels during the examination compared
to pre- and post-MRI levels. However, no statistically significant relationship was
found between the oxygen saturation decrease and pre- and post-MRI STAI scores.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 11, 2019
Accepted:
December 10,
2019
Received in revised form:
December 5,
2019
Received:
March 24,
2019
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
