To evaluate the anxiety and explore relevant risk factors in patients receiving radiotherapy and their relatives, aiming to provide evidence for improving the quality of life.

Before radiotherapy, the self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) was utilized to evaluate the anxiety of patients and their relatives. The incidence rate of anxiety was analyzed under the influence from different risk factors.

A total of 646 participants (463 patients and 183 relatives) were included in this study. The average SAS scores of all participants, patients and family relatives were 41.52±10.08, 41.02±1 9.37 and 42.79±11.56, significantly higher than 37.23±12.58 for the healthy population in China (P=0.000.0.000, 0.000). For patients aged 11-30, 31-50 and 51-90 years, the incidence rate of anxiety was 26%(7/26), 11.0%(20/182) and 19.1%(47/246), respectively (P=0.026). The incidence rate of anxiety for patients with and without tumor recurrence was 27%(13/48) and 15.4%(64/415)(P=0.040). Seventeen of 63 patients (27%) with metastases experienced anxiety, whereas 60 of 396 patients (15.2%) without metastases suffered from anxiety (P=0.020). The incidence rate of anxiety in patients with three or more chronic diseases was 26%(19/74), significantly higher compared with 15.0%(58/387) in those with less comorbidities (P=0.024). Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis demonstrated that three or more chronic diseases or serious diseases were high risk factors of anxiety (OR=1.92, 95%CI: 1.03-3.567).

Patients who receive radiotherapy and their relatives are prone to anxiety. Young age, tumor recurrence or metastasis and ≥ three comorbidities or severe diseases are the high risk factors of anxiety. It is necessary to evaluate the anxiety of patients and their family relatives before radiotherapy and deliver psychological counseling.

Anxiety; Quality of life; Neoplasms/radiotherapy