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
Processing time: 181 Days and 1.4 Hours
Common mental disorders such as anxiety and depression in geriatric orthopedic trauma patients have received little attention in research.
To investigate the prevalence of emotional disorders among geriatric orthopedic trauma patients and identify demographic, social and clinical risk factors.
This cross-sectional study was performed in geriatric patients (aged ≥ 60 years, both sexes) 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. Differences in continuous variables were tested using the t-test, and differences in categorical variables were assessed using the Pearson χ2 test. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to identify the factors associated with a HEI score > 8.
Among the 966 patients, 487 were male and 479 were female, with a mean age of 70.2 ± 7.1 years. The age ranged from 60 to 90 years. Seventy-five patients had an HEI score > 8, accounting for about 7.8% of all patients. A higher Injury Severity Score (4.17 ± 3.10 vs 7.96 ± 6.68, P < 0.001), higher Visual Analog Score (5.05 ± 1.09 vs 6.89 ±1.23, P < 0.001), number of chronic diseases (P < 0.001), injury type (P = 0.038), and education level (P = 0.001) were significantly associated with HEI score > 8. On logistic regression, a higher education level was a protective factor for emotional disorders (P = 0.047), whereas Injury Severity Score (P = 0.024), Visual Analog Score (P < 0.001), two or more chronic diseases (P < 0.001) were the related independent risk factors.
Emotional disorders 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.
Core Tip: Anxiety and depression in geriatric orthopedic trauma patients have received little attention in research. Therefore, in present study, we use Huaxi Emotional-Distress Index as a psycho-metrically screening tool for anxiety and depression in geriatric orthopedic trauma inpatients at a single center. The main finding is that emotional disorders are prevalent in geriatric orthopedic trauma inpatients. In addition, Injury Severity Score, Visual Analog Score, and two or more coexist chronic diseases are independent risk factors, whereas a higher education level is a protective factor. Clinicians should remain vigilant of emotional disorders in geriatric patients and screen for anxiety and depression in higher risk groups.