Background: Fear of disease progression (FoP) is an emerging issue in patients after open-heart surgery (OHS), but data on this phenomenon are scarce and require further investigation.

Objectives: This study aims to explore the current status of FoP in patients after OHS and to detect potential factors associated with FoP.

Methods: A cross-sectional design with convenience sampling was conducted on 210 patients who experienced OHS in the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of a tertiary hospital in China from March 2024 to April 2025 by the demographic and clinical characteristics questionnaire, the Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form, the Medical Coping Modes Questionnaire, the Social Support Rating Scale, the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Data were analyzed by using correlation analysis, univariate analysis, and multiple linear regression.

Results: The average score of FoP was 34.55 ± 6.34, with 94 patients (44.76 %) having clinically abnormal FoP levels (score ≥ 34). The results of multiple linear regression analysis showed that age, educational level, family history of CVD, number of disease episodes, postoperative complications, anxiety and depression, coping modes (confrontation and avoidance), social support, illness perception were factors influencing FoP, accounting for 75.20 % of the total variance.

Conclusion: FoP is a commonly observed issue among patients after OHS. It is necessary to develop specialized psychological interventions and tailored assistance based on patient-specific factors to reduce FoP.

Keywords: Cardiology; Fear of disease progression; Nursing care; Open-heart surgery; Related factors.

Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

背景:

疾病进展的恐惧（FoP）是心脏手术后患者面临的一个新兴问题，但关于这一现象的数据很少，需要进一步研究。

目标:

本研究旨在探讨心脏手术后患者的FoP现状，并检测与FoP相关的潜在因素。

方法:

本研究采用便利抽样法，在2024年3月至2025年4月期间，对一家三级医院心血管外科的210名接受过开胸心脏手术的患者进行了横断面调查。通过人口学和临床特征问卷、疾病进展恐惧量表简版（Fear of Progression Questionnaire-Short Form）、医学应对方式问卷、社会支持评定量表、简易疾病感知问卷以及医院焦虑抑郁量表收集数据，并使用相关分析、单变量分析和多元线性回归进行数据分析。

结果:

FoP的平均得分为34.55 ± 6.34，其中94名患者（占44.76%）表现出临床异常水平的FoP（得分≥34）。多元线性回归分析结果显示年龄、教育程度、心血管疾病家族史、患病次数、术后并发症、焦虑和抑郁、应对方式（对抗与回避）、社会支持及疾病感知等因素会影响FoP，这些因素解释了总变异量的75.20%。

结论:

FoP是心脏手术后患者常见的一个问题。有必要根据患者的特定因素开发专业的心理干预措施和定制化的帮助服务以减少FoP。

关键词: 心脏病学；疾病进展恐惧；护理关怀；开胸心脏手术；相关因素。