Published online Jan 21, 2022. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i3.919
Peer-review started: July 18, 2021
First decision: October 16, 2021
Revised: October 22, 2021
Accepted: December 22, 2021
Article in press: December 22, 2021
Published online: January 21, 2022
Common mental disorders such as anxiety and depression in geriatric orthopedic trauma patients have received little attention in research.
It is urgent to understand, develop and evaluate evidence-based treatments for anxiety and depression among geriatric orthopedic trauma patients. Before treatment, it is a top priority to establish the psychological characteristics and related factors.
This study aimed to analyze the data of geriatric orthopedic trauma patients from our hospital in order to investigate the prevalence of emotional disorders and identify demographic, social and clinical risk factors.
This study was performed in elderly patients aged of 60 years or older with orthopedic trauma admitted to a level I trauma center between May 2015 and December 2017. Demographic, social, and clinical characteristics were described. Huaxi Emotional-Distress Index (HEI) was used to evaluate the severity of anxiety and depression status.
Among the 966 patients, 75 patients had an HEI score > 8, accounting for about 7.8% of all patients. A higher Injury Severity Score, higher Visual Analog Score, number of chronic diseases, injury type, and education level were significantly associated with HEI score > 8. On logistic regression, a higher education level was a protective factor for emotional disorders, whereas Injury Severity Score, Visual Analog Score, two or more chronic diseases were the related independent risk factors.
Anxiety and depression are common in geriatric patients with orthopedic trauma. Clinicians should remain vigilant of emotional disorders in geriatric patients and screen for anxiety and depression in higher risk groups.
Further investigations on larger samples are needed to confirm whether the results of our study are applicable on a broader scale.