The severe Health anxiety patients used about 41 — 78 % more health care per year in total, both during the 3 years preceding inclusion and during follow - up, whereas the DSM - IV Hypochondriasis patients did not have statistically significantly higher total use. (journals.plos.org)
The persistence of Health anxiety, which in this study was indicated by the high Health anxiety follow - up scores on the Whiteley - 7 scale, seems to be in accordance with other studies reporting that many patients still fulfilled diagnostic criteria for Hypochondriasis during the follow - up period [15], [17]. (journals.plos.org)
At later follow - up times, the Whiteley - 7 scores remained at a statistically significantly higher level in the severe Health anxiety and the DSM - IV Hypochondriasis patients compared with patients with a well - defined medical condition, whereas there were no statistically significant differences between the mild Health anxiety patients and those with a well - defined medical condition (Table 3 and Figure 2). (journals.plos.org)