Authors:
S. Sigurdsson1, L. Launer2, M. R. Chang1, T. Aspelund1, M. Jonsdottir1, G. F. Johannsdottir1, B. Valtysdottir1, G. Eiriksdottir1, V. Gudnason1; 1Kopavogur/IS, 2Bethesda, MD/US
Purpose
Purpose
To examine the relationship between claustrophobia while undergoing MRI and possible cognitive impairment among older adults in a large population-based study, the Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility-Reykjavik Study.
Background
A considerable limitation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is its association with incomplete or cancelled examinations due to patient anxiety or claustrophobic symptoms(1,2,3). As a consequence, patients must be excluded from a diagnostic assessment which often is regarded as a “first choice” examination. Additionally, incomplete or cancelled studies are costly in terms of valuable scan time and cause reduced data power and potential result bias in epidemiological studies. Increased understanding of factors that may contribute to claustrophobia and the identification of a population that is more likely to experience claustrophobia associated with MRI may help in the development and choice of methods of anxiety reduction which can result in greater patient comfort, reduction in motion artefact and fewer cancelled or prematurely terminated studies.