Association Between Depression and Increased Odds of Inpatient Mortality Following Hip Fracture Repair

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Hip fractures are a leading cause of disability in the elderly population.
• Depression is common in older adults and linked to adverse outcomes in other surgical fields.
• Understanding depression's impact on hip fracture recovery is crucial for improving patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare postoperative morbidity and mortality in elderly hip fracture patients with and without depression.
• To identify specific adverse events associated with depression after hip fracture surgery.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of the National Inpatient Sample (2016-2021) for patients aged 65+ with hip fractures.
• Comparison of outcomes between depressed and non-depressed patients using regression models.
• Primary outcome: inpatient mortality; Secondary outcomes: DVT/PE, myocardial infarction, infection, discharge disposition, length of stay, total charges.

Main Results:

• 15.8% of 307,377 hip fracture patients had depression; they were more likely female and White.
• Depressed patients had higher odds of inpatient mortality, DVT/PE, and myocardial infarction.
• Depressed patients experienced longer hospital stays, higher costs, and less routine discharge.

Conclusions:

• Depression is associated with increased inpatient mortality and adverse cardiovascular and thromboembolic events after hip fracture surgery.
• Depressed patients face a more complex recovery, indicated by lower routine discharge rates and extended hospital stays.
• Further research is needed to explore long-term outcomes and effective interventions for depressed hip fracture patients.