Shoulder arthroplasty outcomes in patients with major depressive disorder or generalized anxiety disorder

Background

Anxiety and depression are among the most common mental health disorders in the United States and have been linked to increased health-care utilization and poorer clinical outcomes. However, data on the relationship between anxiety and depression and outcomes after shoulder arthroplasty (SA) are both limited and conflicting.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study examined the influence of a preoperative diagnosis of anxiety and/or major depressive disorder (MDD) on outcomes following shoulder arthroplasty, such as range of motion, pain, perioperative and postoperative complications, and readmission rates. A retrospective chart review of our health system’s electronic medical record was performed for dates of service January 2014–December 2019. Patients who underwent primary total shoulder arthroplasty or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty were considered for inclusion. These patients were then divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of an anxiety disorder and/or MDD in their past medical history.

Results

595 patients with a minimum follow-up of one year were considered for analysis. Of these, 205 patients (34.5%) had diagnoses of an anxiety and/or MDD and were assigned to the psychiatric comorbidity group, while 390 (65.5%) were assigned to the control group. The psychiatric comorbidity group was significantly younger (68.3 ± 9.3 vs. 70.5 ± 10.0, P = .008) and more heavily female (68.7% vs. 48.7%, P < .001). The length of stay was significantly longer in the psychiatric comorbidity group than in the control group (1.9 ± 2.4 vs. 1.5 ± 0.9 days, P = .023). Postoperative range of motion, visual analog scale pain scores (1.8 ± 2.7 vs. 1.3 ± 2.3, P = .059), complication rates (7.8% vs. 6.9%, P = .681), and revision rates (4.9% vs. 3.6%, P = .448) were not significantly different between the psychiatric comorbidity and control groups, respectively. All-cause emergency department visitation and hospital readmission rates were also similar between the two groups at 30, 60, and 90 days postoperatively.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that a preoperative diagnosis of MDD or anxiety does not affect pain, postoperative outcomes, complications, or readmission rates following shoulder arthroplasty.