The influence of psychiatric comorbidity on perioperative outcomes after shoulder arthroplasty

Psychiatric comorbidity has been associated with increased health risks and poor long-term treatment outcomes in numerous medical disciplines, but its effect in short-term perioperative settings is incompletely understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of a preoperative diagnosis of depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, or dementia on in-hospital (1) adverse events, (2) blood transfusion, and (3) nonroutine discharge in patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty.

Using the National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) database, we identified 348,824 discharges having undergone partial or total shoulder arthroplasty from 1990 to 2007. Multivariable regression analysis was performed for each of the outcome variables.

The prevalence of diagnosed depressive disorder was 4.4%, anxiety disorder, 1.6%; schizophrenia, 0.6%; and dementia, 1.5%. Preoperative psychiatric disorders, with the exception of schizophrenia, were associated with higher rates of adverse events. Depression and schizophrenia were associated with higher perioperative rates of blood transfusion. Any preoperative psychiatric illness was associated with higher rates of nonroutine discharge.

Patients with preoperative psychiatric illness undergoing shoulder arthroplasty are at increased risk for perioperative morbidity and posthospitalization care. Preoperative screening of psychiatric illness might help with planning of shoulder arthroplasty.