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Prevalence of Generalised Anxiety Disorder among Urban Omani Patients Attending Primary Care Centres: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Anxiety disorders are common mental health illnesses in primary care. Undiagnosed and thus untreated mental disorders can interfere with the patient’s quality of life, ultimately resulting in poor daily functioning, a greater number of doctor consultations, and increased disability.

Objective: The objective of this study was to establish the prevalence of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) among an urban adult Omani population as well as associated sociodemographic and clinical variables.

Methodology: This study utilised a cross-sectional design and was performed between December 2019 and January 2020. A total of 250 Omani patients were recruited from eight randomised government-funded primary care centres in Muscat, Oman. The prevalence of GAD among the participants was determined by utilising an Arabic version of the validated 7-item General Anxiety Disorder tool delivered during face-to-face interviews. 

Results: Overall, a total of 33 patients had GAD (13.2%). According to the univariate analysis, a personal history of anxiety (P = 0.001), chronic medical illnesses (P = 0.025), low monthly income (P = 0.018), divorced individuals (P = 0.015), and housewives with extra part-time employment (P = 0.032) were significantly associated with GAD. However, only the absence of a personal history of anxiety (P = 0.001), and high monthly income (P = 0.002) remained a statistically significant protector against GAD in the multivariate analysis.

Conclusion: We found a high prevalence of GAD among an adult urban Omani population. Moreover, certain clinical and sociodemographic variables were found to be significantly associated with the disorder, including a personal history of anxiety and low monthly income. The quality of life of Omani GAD patients may be improved via rapid screening of the general population.