Introduction:

Rheumatic diseases are known for their systemic nature, affecting different organs and organ systems. Neuropsychiatric involvement is frequent and conditions additional disability. Anxious-depressive syndrome is one of the main expressions of affectation of the nervous system.

Objective:

To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the presentation of the anxious-depressive syndrome in patients with rheumatic diseases.

Methods:

A basic investigation was carried out, with a non-experimental, descriptive, cross-sectional and field design. The universe consisted of 557 patients diagnosed with rheumatic diseases treated at the Hospital Clinica Metropolitana in the city of Riobamba during the period January 2020 - December 2022. The sample was made up of a total of 229 patients.

Results:

Average age of 53.48 years, predominance of female patients (72.49 %) and with associated comorbidities (56.77 %). Hypothyroidism (39.23%), arterial hypertension (33.08 %) and diabetes mellitus (21.54 %) were the most represented comorbidities. Rheumatoid arthritis (67.68 %) was the rheumatic disease that was most frequently identified. 42.36 % of the patients presented manifestations of anxiety and 36.68 % clinical manifestations compatible with depression.

Conclusions:

High percentages of patients with rheumatic diseases and clinical manifestations compatible with anxiety and depression were identified; a higher percentage of presentation of these manifestations was identified in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

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