People with depression and anxiety have a slightly higher risk of death after undergoing surgery.
People with depression and anxiety have a slightly higher risk of death after undergoing surgery.
Researchers analysed data from 35,539 surgical patients of America who were admitted to intensive care units between 2003 and 2006. Of those patients, 8,922 (25 percent) had an existing psychiatric condition, including 5,500 (16 percent) with depression, 2,913 (8 percent) with post-traumatic stress disorder, 2,473 (7 percent) with anxiety, 793 (2 percent) with bipolar disorder, and 621 (2 percent) with psychosis.
Initial analysis showed that the death rates within 30 days after surgery were similar for patients with and without psychiatric illness 3.8 percent and 4 percent, respectively. But when the researchers adjusted for other factors, the death rate was higher for patients with a psychiatric condition.
Further analysis showed that the high risk of death was associated with depression and anxiety, but not any other psychiatric condition. Also, death rates were higher among patients with psychiatric conditions who had respiratory or digestive system surgery, but not for those who had surgery involving the circulatory, nervous or musculoskeletal systems.
According to the researchers several potential mechanisms exist to explain these findings. First, studies indicate that patients with depression frequently do not adhere to medical recommendations for underlying medical conditions. It is therefore plausible that such under-treated conditions may affect postoperative care and outcome. Second, patients with existing psychiatric comorbidity may be more likely to undergo surgery by a lower-quality surgeon or hospital. Third, pre-existing psychiatric comorbidity may serve as an indicator for greater severity of surgical risk.
Therefore, the findings suggest that surgical patients with depression or anxiety require special care. The researchers recommended that surgeons caring for patients with a history of anxiety or depression seek early involvement of multidisciplinary teams to help identify problematic areas in perioperative care processes, particularly regarding issues of surgeon-patient communication and adherence to post-surgical recommendations.
Researchers analysed data from 35,539 surgical patients of America who were admitted to intensive care units between 2003 and 2006. Of those patients, 8,922 (25 percent) had an existing psychiatric condition, including 5,500 (16 percent) with depression, 2,913 (8 percent) with post-traumatic stress disorder, 2,473 (7 percent) with anxiety, 793 (2 percent) with bipolar disorder, and 621 (2 percent) with psychosis.
Initial analysis showed that the death rates within 30 days after surgery were similar for patients with and without psychiatric illness 3.8 percent and 4 percent, respectively. But when the researchers adjusted for other factors, the death rate was higher for patients with a psychiatric condition.
Further analysis showed that the high risk of death was associated with depression and anxiety, but not any other psychiatric condition. Also, death rates were higher among patients with psychiatric conditions who had respiratory or digestive system surgery, but not for those who had surgery involving the circulatory, nervous or musculoskeletal systems.
According to the researchers several potential mechanisms exist to explain these findings. First, studies indicate that patients with depression frequently do not adhere to medical recommendations for underlying medical conditions. It is therefore plausible that such under-treated conditions may affect postoperative care and outcome. Second, patients with existing psychiatric comorbidity may be more likely to undergo surgery by a lower-quality surgeon or hospital. Third, pre-existing psychiatric comorbidity may serve as an indicator for greater severity of surgical risk.
Therefore, the findings suggest that surgical patients with depression or anxiety require special care. The researchers recommended that surgeons caring for patients with a history of anxiety or depression seek early involvement of multidisciplinary teams to help identify problematic areas in perioperative care processes, particularly regarding issues of surgeon-patient communication and adherence to post-surgical recommendations.
COMMENT
DoctorNDTV is the one stop site for all your health needs providing the most credible health information, health news and tips with expert advice on healthy living, diet plans, informative videos etc. You can get the most relevant and accurate info you need about health problems like diabetes, cancer, pregnancy, HIV and AIDS, weight loss and many other lifestyle diseases. We have a panel of over 350 experts who help us develop content by giving their valuable inputs and bringing to us the latest in the world of healthcare.
