Risk of complications after surgery increases due to depression

Washington: Before undergoing hip replacements, knee replacements or hernia repairs, do not let depression or anxiety take a toll on your health, as a study finds, a patients' mental health may affect their risk of experiencing wound-related complications after surgery.

The findings indicated, appeared in the British Journal of Surgery, indicated that the patients with moderate anxiety or depression also had a 1.20-times greater likelihood of being re-admitted for a wound complication and had longer durations of hospital stay on average.

"This relationship warrants further exploration in order to understand the mechanisms and potential opportunities for intervention," said lead author Philip Britteon.

"The study also emphasizes the importance of the psychological state before surgery and the fact that psychological disorders are often overlooked.

Preoperative assessment should address psychological as well as physical health, given the significant impact of anxiety/depression on wound-related complications and re-admissions," Britteon explained.

They included nearly 1,77,000 patients in England undergoing hip replacements, knee replacements, hernia repairs and varicose vein operations.

The likelihood of experiencing wound complications after a hip replacement were 1.17-times greater for patients with moderate anxiety or depression than those without it.

The patients with moderate anxiety or depression also had a 1.20-times greater likelihood of being re-admitted for a wound complication and had longer durations of hospital stay on average.

Similar results were seen across all types of operations and were larger for patients with extreme anxiety or depression.