Disparities in operative outcomes in patients with comorbid mental illness

Feasibility Study for Using Large Language Models to Identify Goals-of-Care Documentation at Scale in Patients With Advanced Cancer

PURPOSE

The purpose of our study was to (1) use a large language model (LLM) to identify goals-of-care (GOC) conversations in a large volume of notes, and (2) explore the potential of LLMs for a novel summarization task.

METHODS

We included patients diagnosed with advanced cancer between April 1, 2024, and June 30, 2024. A validated LLM prompt for GOC was applied to electronic health records (EHRs) using a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA)-secure version of GPT-4o, a LLM developed by OpenAI. Output included (1) presence or absence of GOC documentation, (2) explanations with source text used to inform the LLM's determination, and (3) a hallucination score, indicating proportion of source text generated by the LLM that did not perfectly match text in the EHR. Two LLM prompts were designed to generate structured and unstructured GOC summaries. We randomly selected five patients and applied the summarization task to notes flagged by LLM as containing GOC. We reviewed LLM summaries to examine for relevant information.

RESULTS

Among 326 patients associated with nearly 1,400 clinical notes, LLM flagged approximately 40% of notes for GOC documentation. Subsequent review of explanation text identified that 128 patients (nearly 40% of the total patient population) had GOC documentation. The hallucination index for explanations was low, suggesting that the LLM did not produce text that was not found in EHRs. LLM prompts produced accurate summaries in less than 2 minutes per patient.

CONCLUSION

LLMs can capture GOC at scale and generate clinically useful summaries. Future directions include real-time implementation in the clinical setting.

Psychiatric Diagnoses Are Associated With Postoperative Disparities in Patients Undergoing Major Colorectal Operations

BACKGROUND

Over 50% of hospitalized patients have comorbid psychiatric diagnoses, resulting in increased risk of morbidity such as longer lengths of stay, worse health-related quality of life, and increased mortality. However, data regarding colorectal surgery postoperative outcomes in patients with psychiatric diagnoses (PD) are limited.

METHODS

We queried a single institution's National Surgical Quality Improvement Program from 2013-2019 for major colorectal procedures. Postsurgical outcomes for patients with and without PD were compared. Primary outcomes were prolonged length of stay (pLOS) and 30-day readmission.

RESULTS

From a total of 1447 patients, 402 (27.8%) had PD. PD had more smokers (20.9% vs 15%) and higher mean body mass index (29.1 kg/m2 vs 28.2 kg/m2). Bivariate outcomes showed more surgical site infections (SSI) (10.2% vs 6.12%), reoperation (9.45% vs 6.35%), and pLOS (34.8% vs 29.0%) (all P values <.05) in the PD group. On multivariate analysis, PD had higher likelihood of reoperation (OR 1.53, 95% CI: [1.02-2.80]) and SSI (OR 1.82, 95% CI: [1.25-2.66]).

DISCUSSION

Psychiatric diagnoses are a risk factor for adverse outcomes after colorectal procedures. Further studies are needed to evaluate the benefit of perioperative mental health support services for these patients.

Impact of preoperative mental health diagnosis on postoperative opioid use patterns in spine fusion surgery: A systematic literature review

Opioids are frequently prescribed for patients undergoing procedures such as spinal fusion surgery for the management of chronic back pain. However, the association between a preoperative mental health illness, such as depression or anxiety, and opioid use patterns after spinal fusion surgery remain unclear. Therefore, we performed a systematic literature review in accordance with PRISMA guidelines to identify articles from the PubMed Database that analyzed the relationship between preoperative mental health illness and postoperative opioid usage after spinal fusion surgery on June 1, 2023. The Methodological Index for Nonrandomized Studies (MINORS) was utilized to evaluate the quality of included articles. Seven studies with 139,580 patients and a mean MINORS score of 18 ± 0.5 were included in qualitative synthesis. The most common spine surgery performed was lumbar fusion (59 %) and the mean age across studies ranged from 50 to 62 years. The range of postoperative opioid usage patterns analyzed ranged from 1 to 24 months. The majority of studies (6/7; 86 %) reported that a preoperative diagnosis of mental health illness was associated with increased opioid dependence after spinal fusion surgery. Preoperative use of opioids for protracted periods was shown to be associated with postoperative chronic opioid dependence. Consensus findings suggest that having a preoperative diagnosis of a mental health illness such as depression or anxiety is associated with increased postoperative opioid use after spinal fusion surgery. Patient comorbidities, including diagnoses of mental health illness, must be considered by the spine surgeon in order to reduce rates of postoperative opioid dependence.

Assessing performance of Geriatric Surgery Verification Program preoperative communication standards in spine surgery

BACKGROUND

To assess performance of the American College of Surgeons Geriatric Surgery Verification (GSV) Program preoperative communication standards in older patients undergoing high risk spine surgery.

METHODS

We performed an external validation of a natural language processing (NLP) method for identifying documentation meeting GSV communication standards. We then applied this method to a retrospective cohort of patients aged 65 and older who underwent spinal fusion procedures between January 2018-December 2020 in a large healthcare system in Massachusetts. Our primary outcome of interest was fulfillment of GSV communication domains: overall health goals, treatment goals, and patient-centered outcomes. Factors associated with the fulfillment of at least one domain were assessed using Poisson regression to adjust for confounding.

RESULTS

External validation of the NLP method had a sensitivity of 88.6% and specificity of 99.0%. Our study population included 1294 patients, of whom only 0.8% (n = 10) patients contained documentation of all three GSV domains, and 33.7% (n = 436) had documentation fulfilling at least one GSV domain. The GSV domain with lowest frequency of documentation was overall health goals, with only 35 (2.7%) of patients meeting this requirement. Adjusted analysis suggested that patients with a Charlson comorbidity score of one or more had higher fulfillment of GSV criteria (CCI 1-3: prevalence rate ratio (PRR) 1.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5-2.1; CCI >3: PRR 1.5, 95% CI 1.2-1.9).

CONCLUSION

A paucity of geriatric patients undergoing spine surgery had preoperative documentation consistent with GSV standards. Given that spine surgery is one of the highest risk surgeries in older adults and GSV standards are relevant to all surgical specialties, wider promulgation of these standards is warranted.

Longer hospitalizations, more complications, and greater readmissions for patients with comorbid psychiatric disorders undergoing pulmonary lobectomy

OBJECTIVE

To examine the influence of comorbid psychiatric disorders (PSYD) on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing pulmonary lobectomy.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Readmissions Database from 2016 to 2018 was performed. Patients with lung cancer with and without psychiatric comorbidities who underwent pulmonary lobectomy were collated and analyzed (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification Mental, Behavioral and Neurodevelopmental disorders [F01-99]). The association of PSYD with complications, length of stay, and readmissions was assessed using a multivariable regression analysis. Additional subgroup analyses were performed.

RESULTS

A total of 41,691 patients met inclusion criteria. Of these, 27.84% (11,605) of the patients had at least 1 PSYD. PSYD was associated with a significantly increased risk of postoperative complications (relative risk, 1.041; 95% CI, 1.015-1.068; P = .0018), pulmonary complications (relative risk, 1.125; 95% CI, 1.08-1.171; P < .0001), longer length of stay (PSYD mean, 6.79 days and non-PSYD mean, 5.68 days; P < .0001), higher 30-day readmission rate (9.2% vs 7.9%; P < .0001), and 90-day readmission rate (15.4% vs 12.9%; P < .007). Among patients with PSYD, those with cognitive disorders and psychotic disorders (eg, schizophrenia) appear to have the highest rates and risks of postoperative morbidity and in-hospital mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with lung cancer with comorbid psychiatric disorders undergoing lobectomy experience worse postoperative outcomes with longer hospitalization, increased rates of overall and pulmonary complications, and greater readmissions suggesting potential opportunities for improved psychiatric care during the perioperative period.

Burden of Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health on Infectious Complications in Emergency General Surgery

Background: Infectious complications lead to worse post-operative outcomes and are used to compare hospital performance in pay-for-performance programs. However, the impact of social and behavioral determinants of health on infectious complication rates after emergency general surgery (EGS) remains unclear. Patients and Methods: All patients undergoing EGS in the 2019 Nationwide Readmissions Database were included. The primary outcome of the study was the rate of infectious complications within 30 days, defined as a composite outcome including all infectious complications occurring during the index hospitalization or 30-day re-admission. Secondary outcomes included specific infectious complication rates. Multivariable regression analyses were used to study the impact of patient characteristics, social determinants of health (insurance status, median household income in the patient's residential zip code), and behavioral determinants of health (substance use disorders, neuropsychiatric comorbidities) on post-operative infection rates. Results: Of 367,917 patients included in this study, 20.53% had infectious complications. Medicare (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26-1.34; p < 0.001), Medicaid (aOR, 1.24; 95% CI,1.19-1.29; p < 0.001), lowest zip code income quartile (aOR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.13-1.22; p < 0.001), opioid use disorder (aOR,1.18; 95% CI,1.10-1.29; p < 0.001), and neurodevelopmental disorders (aOR, 2.16; 95% CI, 1.90-2.45; p < 0.001) were identified as independent predictors of 30-day infectious complications. A similar association between determinants of health and infectious complications was also seen for pneumonia, urinary tract infection (UTI), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) sepsis, and catheter-association urinary tract infection (CAUTI). Conclusions: Social and behavioral determinants of health are associated with a higher risk of developing post-operative infectious complications in EGS. Accounting for these factors in pay-for-performance programs and public reporting could promote fairer comparisons of hospital performance.

The Association of Mental Illness With Outcomes of Emergency Surgery for Bowel Obstruction

INTRODUCTION

Bowel obstruction is one of the most common surgical emergencies. The management of SBO is variable and influenced by numerous confounding factors. Recent studies have identified mental health as a health disparity that affects surgical outcomes. We aim to assess whether mental illness is a health disparity and its association with postoperative complications and secondary outcomes for bowel obstruction in Emergency General Surgery (EGS).

METHODS

This was a retrospective study utilizing the National Inpatient Sample. Individuals aged 18-64 who underwent emergency adehesiolysis or bowel resection from 2015 to 2017 were identified. Postoperative complications, in-hospital mortality, length of stay, and total cost for surgical patients with and without mental illness were recorded. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the association between mental health and bowel obstruction.

RESULTS

20,574 patients who underwent surgery for bowel obstruction were identified. 3756 of these patients had mental illness and 16,998 patients did not. Patients with mental illness did not have significantly worse outcomes compared to patients without mental illness. Among 3576 patients with mental illness, sex, race, patient location, insurance, location/teaching status of hospital, hospital control and procedure type were significant predictors of prolonged length of stay, higher cost, and increased postoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Mental health does not appear to be a health disparity in outcomes for bowel obstruction procedures. However, the intersection of mental health with race and insurance status predicts worse outcomes. This essential area should be further explored to determine how marginalized populations are affected in emergency surgical care.

Emergency Surgery, Multimorbidity and Hospital-Free Days: A Retrospective Observational Study

INTRODUCTION

Analyzing hospital-free days (HFDs) offers a patient-centered approach to health services research. We hypothesized that, within emergency general surgery (EGS), multimorbidity would be associated with fewer HFDs, whether patients were managed operatively or nonoperatively.

METHODS

EGS patients were identified using national Medicare claims data (2015-2018). Patients were classified as multimorbid based on the presence of a Qualifying Comorbidity Set and stratified by treatment: operative (received surgery within 48 h of index admission) and nonoperative. HFDs were calculated through 180 d, beginning on the day of index admission, as days alive and spent outside of a hospital, an Emergency Department, or a long-term acute care facility. Univariate comparisons were performed using Kruskal-Wallis tests and risk-adjusted HFDs were compared between multimorbid and nonmultimorbid patients using multivariable zero-inflated negative binomial regression models.

RESULTS

Among 174,891 operative patients, 45.5% were multimorbid. Among 398,756 nonoperative patients, 59.2% were multimorbid. Multimorbid patients had fewer median HFDs than nonmultimorbid patients among operative and nonoperative cohorts (P < 0.001). At 6 mo, among operative patients, multimorbid patients had 6.5 fewer HFDs (P < 0.001), and among nonoperative patients, multimorbid patients had 7.9 fewer HFDs (P < 0.001). When length of stay was included as a covariate, nonoperative multimorbid patients still had 7.9 fewer HFDs than nonoperative, nonmultimorbid patients (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

HFDs offer a patient-centered, composite outcome for claims-based analyses. For EGS patients, multimorbidity was associated with less time alive and out of the hospital, especially when patients were managed nonoperatively.

Associations Between Psychiatric Diagnoses on Length of Stay and Mortality After Rib Fracture: A Retrospective Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Concurrent psychiatric diagnoses adversely impact outcomes in surgical patients, but their relationship to patients with rib fracture after trauma is less understood. We hypothesized that psychiatric comorbidity would be associated with increases in hospital length of stay (LOS) and mortality risk after rib fracture.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The 2017 National Inpatient Sample was queried for adult patients who were admitted with rib fracture after trauma. Mental health disorders were categorized into 34 psychiatric diagnosis groups (PDGs) using clinical classifications software refined for International Classification of Diseases-10. Outcomes of interest were LOS and mortality. Bivariable analysis determined associations between PDGs, patient demographics, hospital characteristics, and outcomes. Logistic regression was performed to identify adjusted effects on mortality, and linear regression was performed to identify effects on LOS.

RESULTS

Of 32,801 patients, median age was 61 y (IQR 46-76), and median LOS was 5 d (IQR 3-9). No PDGs were associated with increased odds of mortality. Concurrent diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum (Coeff. 3.5, 95% CI 2.7-4.4, P < 0.001) or trauma- or stressor-related (Coeff. 1.6, 95% CI 0.9-2.5, P < 0.001) disorders demonstrated the greatest association with prolonged LOS. Increased odds of death and prolonged hospital stay were also associated with male sex, non-White patient race, and surgery occurring at urban and public hospitals.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychiatric comorbidities are associated with death after rib fracture but are associated with increased LOS. These findings may help promote multidisciplinary patient management in trauma.

Effect of Serious Mental Illness on Surgical Consultation and Operative Management of Older Adults with Acute Biliary Disease: A Nationwide Study

BACKGROUND

Mental illness is associated with worse outcomes after emergency general surgery. To understand how preoperative processes of care may influence disparate outcomes, we examined rates of surgical consultation, treatment, and operative approach between older adults with and without serious mental illness (SMI).

STUDY DESIGN

We performed a nationwide, retrospective cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries aged 65.5 years or more hospitalized via the emergency department for acute cholecystitis or biliary colic. SMI was defined as schizophrenia spectrum, mood, and/or anxiety disorders. The primary outcome was surgical consultation. Secondary outcomes included operative treatment and surgical approach (laparoscopic vs open). Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine outcomes with adjustment for potential confounders related to patient demographics, comorbidities, and rates of imaging.

RESULTS

Of 85,943 included older adults, 19,549 (22.7%) had SMI. Before adjustment, patients with SMI had lower rates of surgical consultation (78.6% vs 80.2%, p < 0.001) and operative treatment (68.2% vs 71.7%, p < 0.001), but no significant difference regarding laparoscopic approach (92.0% vs 92.1%, p = 0.805). In multivariable regression models with adjustment for confounders, there was no difference in odds of receiving a surgical consultation (odds ratio 0.98 [95% CI 0.93 to 1.03]) or undergoing operative treatment (odds ratio 0.98 [95% CI 0.93 to 1.03]) for patients with SMI compared with those without SMI.

CONCLUSIONS

Older adults with SMI had similar odds of receiving surgical consultation and operative treatment as those without SMI. As such, differences in processes of care that result in SMI-related disparities likely occur before or after the point of surgical consultation in this universally insured patient population.

The impact of schizophrenia spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder on radiotherapy treatment and overall survival in cancer patients: A matched pair analysis

Introduction

The effect of a psychiatric disorder (PD) on the choice of radiotherapy regimens and subsequent cancer control outcomes is largely unknown. In this study, we evaluated differences in radiotherapy regimens and overall survival (OS) between cancer patients with a PD in comparison with a control population of patients without a PD.

Methods

Referred patients with a PD (i.e. schizophrenia spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder) were included through a text-based search of the electronic patient database of all the patients that received radiotherapy between 2015 and 2019 at a single centre. Each patient was matched to a patient without a PD. Matching was based on cancer type, staging, performance score (WHO/KPS), non-radiotherapeutic cancer treatment, gender and age. Outcomes were the amount of fractions received, total dose, and OS.

Results

88 patients with PD were identified; 44 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder, 34 with bipolar disorder, and 10 with borderline personality disorder. Matched patients without a PD showed similar baseline characteristics. No statistically significant difference was observed regarding the number of fractions with a median of 16 (interquartile range [IQR] 3-23) versus 16 (IQR 3-25), respectively (p = 0.47). Additionally, no difference in total dose was found. Kaplan-Meier curves showed a statistically significant difference in OS between the patients with a PD versus those without a PD, with 3-year OS rates of 47 % versus 61 %, respectively (hazard ratio 1.57, 95 % confidence interval 1.05-2.35, p = 0.03). No clear differences in causes of death were observed.

Conclusion

Cancer patients referred for radiotherapy with schizophrenia spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder receive similar radiotherapy schedules for a variety of tumour types but attain worse survival.

Shared Decision Making in the Geriatric Surgery Verification Program: Assessing Baseline Performance

CONTEXT

As part of the launch of the Geriatric Surgery Verification program in 2019, the American College of Surgeons issued care standards for older patients, including requirements for preoperative documentation of patients' goals. Hospital performance on these standards prior to the Geriatric Surgery Verification program is unknown.

OBJECTIVES

To assess baseline performance of the Geriatric Surgery Verification (GSV) standard for documentation of preoperative goals for older patients, and to determine factors associated with standard adherence.

METHODS

Using natural language processing, this study examines the electronic health records of patients aged 65 years or older who underwent coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) or colectomies in 2017 or 2018 at three hospitals. The primary outcome was adherence to at least one of the three components of GSV Standard 5.1, which requires preoperative documentation of overall health goals, treatment goals, and patient-centered outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 2630 operations and 2563 patients were included. At least one component of the standard was met in 307 (11.7%) operations and all three components were met in 5 (0.2%). Higher likelihood of meeting the standard was demonstrated for patients who were female (odds ratio [OR] 1.30; 95% CI 1.00-1.68), undergoing colectomy (OR 2.82; 95% CI 2.15-3.72), or with more comorbidities (Charlson scores >3 [OR 1.55; 95% CI 1.14-2.09]).

CONCLUSION

Before GSV program implementation, clinicians for two major operations almost never met the GSV standard for preoperative discussion of patient goals. Interdisciplinary teams will need to adjust clinical practice to meet best-practice communication standards for older patients.

Relationship Between Mental Health Disorders and Readmissions Following Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

There is limited evidence exploring the relationship between mental health disorders and the readmissions following total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between mental health disorders and the risk of readmission following TJA.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar from their inception till April 19, 2022. Studies exploring the association of mental health disorders and readmission risk following TJA were selected. The outcomes were divided into 30-day readmission, 90-day readmission, and readmission after 90 days. We also performed subgroup analyses based on the type of arthroplasty: total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). A total of 12 studies were selected, of which 11 were included in quantitative analysis. A total of 1,345,893 patients were evaluated, of which 73,953 patients suffered from mental health disorders.

RESULTS

The risk of 30-day readmission (odds ratio = 1.43, 95% CI 1.14-1.80, P = .002, I² = 87%) and 90-day readmission (OR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.22-1.49, P < .00001, I² = 89%) was significantly associated with mental health disorders. On subgroup analyses, 30-day readmission was significantly associated with THA (OR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.04-1.60, P = .02), but not with TKA (OR = 1.44, 95% CI 0.51-4.06, P = .50). Similarly, 90-day readmission was significantly associated with both THA (OR = 1.21, 95% CI 1.14-1.29, P < .00001) and TKA (OR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.17-1.51, P < .0001).

CONCLUSION

Mental health disorders are significantly associated with increased 30-day and 90-day readmissions. Increasing awareness regarding mental health disorders and readmission in arthroplasty will help in efficient preoperative risk stratification and better postoperative management in these patients.

Using digital storytelling to understand service users' mental health recovery and address stigma among nursing students

PURPOSE

Stigmatized attitudes towards people with mental illness from healthcare providers continues to be a problem affecting recovery in people with mental illness. The process of recovery was explored through digital stories created by service users, with support from nursing students. Stigmatized attitudes in nursing students and stigma resistance in service users were also investigated.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A quasi-experimental, mixed-methods, pilot study in which service users/nursing student teams created digital stories. Surveys testing stigmatized attitudes and stigma resistance were employed.

FINDINGS

Statistical significance was not found, however, qualitative analysis revealed recovery elements and greater appreciation of individuals with mental illness by the nursing students.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Digital story-telling assists service users in doing the internal work of making meaning from experience. Nursing students benefit from involvement in the activity.

Impact of Mental Health on General Surgery Patients and Strategies to Improve Outcomes

Mental Health Disorders (MHD) are a growing concern nationwide. The significant impact MHD have on surgical outcomes has only recently started to be understood. This literature review investigated how mental health impacts the outcomes of general surgery patients and what can be done to make improvements. Patients with schizophrenia had the poorest surgical outcomes. Mental health disorders increased post-surgical pain, hospital length of stay, complications, readmissions, and mortality. Mental health disorders decreased wound healing and quality of care. Optimizing outcomes will be best accomplished through integrating more effective perioperative screening tools and interventions. Screenings tools can incorporate artificial intelligence, MHD data, resilience and its biomarkers, and patient mental health questionnaires. Interventions include cognitive behavioral therapy, virtual reality, spirituality, pharmacology, and resilience training.

The Frequency of Temporomandibular Disorders, Surgical Complications, and Self-Reported Mental Health Problems in Orthognathic Patients

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the frequency of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD), surgical complications, and patient's self-reported mental health problems during orthognathic treatment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The clinical records of 145 patients treated with orthognathic treatment were retrospectively studied. Variables regarding occlusal parameters, treatment duration, TMD symptoms, complications, and self-reported mental health status at time points of T0 (beginning of the treatment), T1 (before surgery), and T2 (final examination) were evaluated. The variables were statistically compared with significance level of P < 0.05.

RESULTS

A total of 51% (n = 74) of the patients had TMD symptoms at 1 or several time points, women having significantly more TMD signs and symptoms (P = 0.002). Temporomandibular disorder signs and symptoms decreased significantly after orthognathic treatment (P=0.001). At least 1 self-reported mental health-related factor during 1 or several time points (T0-T2) was recorded in 17.2% (n = 25) of the patients. There was no significant difference in frequency of self-reported mental health problems in patients with TMD signs and symptoms compared with patients without TMD signs and symptoms (P > 0.05). The frequency of postoperative complications was 39.3%, being significantly higher after Bilateral Sagittal Split Osteothomy (BSSO, 48.7%). There was no difference in treatment duration of patients with self-reported mental health problems compared with patients without (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study population, TMD signs and symptoms seem to be typical both in patients with or without self-reported mental health problems. Women had significantly more TMD symptoms. Orthognathic surgery treatment seems to have a positive effect on TMD signs and symptoms.

Association Between Preoperative Depression and Readmission Rate Following Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

To date, no meta-analysis of the relationship between hospital readmission after total joint arthroplasty (TJA) and preoperative depression has been conducted. Hence, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association of preoperative depression with the readmission rate following TJA.

METHODS

We systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library for studies published before March 28, 2021, which compared readmission rates in patients with or without preoperative depression who underwent TJA. The primary outcome was the relationship between preoperative depression and 30-day and 90-day readmission rates after TJA. We also performed surgery type subgroup analyses for total hip arthroplasty, total knee arthroplasty (TKA), total shoulder arthroplasty, and total ankle arthroplasty.

RESULTS

We included 9 studies with 395,815 TJA cases, of which 49,402 were diagnosed with preoperative depression and 346,413 were not. In pooled TJA analysis, the 30-day and 90-day readmission rates were significantly higher in the depression group than in the no-depression group (odds ratio [OR] 1.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26-2.73, P = .002 and OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.14-1.43,; P < .001, respectively). In the subgroup analyses, the 90-day readmission rate was higher in the depression group than in the no-depression group after TKA (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.15-1.42, P < .001). There were no differences in other surgery types.

CONCLUSION

Based on available evidence, preoperative depression increases the readmission rate after TJA, particularly TKA. As depression is a modifiable risk factor, screening for depression and referring patients for proper psychiatric management are important.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, meta-analysis.

Improving Surgical Quality for Patients with Mental Health Illnesses: A Narrative Review

OBJECTIVE

To establish and define disparities in care for patients presenting with surgical disease who have pre-existing mental health diagnoses.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

Mental illness affects approximately 6.7 million Canadians. For them, stigma, comorbid disorders, and sequelae of psychiatric diagnoses can be barriers patients face to receive equitable healthcare. The goal of this review is to define inequities in surgical care for patients with pre-existing mental illness.

METHODS

We search OVID Medline, Pubmed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane review files using a combination of search terms using a PICO (population, intervention, comparison, outcome) model focusing on surgical care for patients with mental illness.

RESULTS

The literature on mental illness in surgical patients focused primarily on preoperative and postoperative disparities in surgical care between patients with and without a diagnosis of mental illness. Preoperatively, patients were 7.5-40% less likely to be deemed surgical candidates, were less likely to receive testing, and were more likely to present at later stages of their disease or have delayed surgical care. Similar themes arose in the postoperative period: patients with mental illness were more likely to require ICU admission, were up to 3 times more likely to have a prolonged length of hospital stay, had a 14-270% increased likelihood of having postoperative complications, and had significantly higher healthcare costs.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical patients with preexisting psychiatric diagnoses have a propensity for worse perioperative outcomes compared to patients without reported mental illness. Taking a thorough psychiatric history can potentially help surgical teams address disparities and access to care as well as anticipate and prevent adverse outcomes.

Exploratory analysis on the association of mental health disorders with in-hospital postoperative complications and mortality in head and neck cancer surgery

BACKGROUND

The objective was to assess the association of mental health disorders with in-hospital complication and mortality rates in patients undergoing head and neck cancer surgery.

METHODS

In this exploratory retrospective study, the Nationwide Inpatient Sample was queried from 2003 to 2014 for all patients with a diagnosis of head and neck cancer who underwent surgery. Univariate cross-tabulation, logistic regression, and propensity score matching (PSM) were used to compare demographics, procedure-related variables, and in-hospital postoperative complications and mortality between patients with and without selected comorbid mental health disorders.

RESULTS

Of 39 600 included patients, 3390 (8.6%) had a selected comorbid mental health disorder diagnosis. After PSM, patients with selected mental health disorders had increased risk of overall medical complications on multivariable analysis (OR 1.28 [CI 1.12-1.46], P < 0.001) but not overall surgical complications or mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with a mental health disorder diagnosis have increased risk of in-hospital medical, certain surgical, and total complications.

Pre-existing psychiatric disorder is related to lower mortality from road traffic accident: A Japanese nationwide retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have reported inconsistent results on the mortality from trauma among psychiatric patients comparing to non-psychiatric population, which may be partly explained by the inclusion of both suicidal and accidental trauma. This study aimed to investigate the association of psychiatric diagnoses on admission with the outcomes of hospitalized patients for accidental trauma, namely road traffic injury.

METHODS

Detailed information of patients aged 15 years or older who were hospitalized for road traffic injury between 2004 and 2017 was extracted from the Japan Trauma Data Bank. The primary outcome was to compare in-hospital mortality between patients with and without a psychiatric disorder. We also conducted a subgroup analysis among patients with and without a serious head injury.

RESULTS

Altogether, 85,069 patients were included. Of these, 3,895 patients (4.6%) had a psychiatric diagnosis. The in-hospital mortality rate was significantly lower among patients with a psychiatric diagnosis than those without (5.4% vs. 8.3%; adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.47-0.70, p<0.001). In a subgroup analysis of patients with a serious head injury, in-hospital mortality was significantly lower in patients with a psychiatric diagnosis than in those without (10.5% vs. 17.3%; adjusted OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.37-0.62, p<0.001); in-hospital mortality of patients without a serious head injury showed no differences between patients with or without a psychiatric diagnosis (2.8% vs. 3.5%; adjusted OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.61-1.16, p=0.295).

CONCLUSIONS

In-hospital mortality from road traffic injury was significantly lower among patients with a psychiatric diagnosis than those without, which was primarily evident in a subgroup of patients with a serious head injury. While further replication is necessary, results might be indicative of the neuroprotective effect of psychotropic medications.

Association of mental disorders with SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe health outcomes: nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND

Epidemiological data on the association between mental disorders and the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity are limited.

AIMS

To evaluate the association between mental disorders and the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe outcomes following COVID-19.

METHOD

We performed a cohort study using the Korean COVID-19 patient database based on national health insurance data. Each person with a mental or behavioural disorder (diagnosed during the 6 months prior to their first SARS-CoV-2 test) was matched by age, gender and Charlson Comorbidity Index with up to four people without mental disorders. SARS-CoV-2-positivity risk and the risk of death or severe events (intensive care unit admission, use of mechanical ventilation and acute respiratory distress syndrome) post-infection were calculated using conditional logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Among 230 565 people tested for SARS-CoV-2, 33 653 (14.6%) had mental disorders; 928/33 653 (2.76%) tested SARS-CoV-2 positive and 56/928 (6.03%) died. In multivariable analysis using the matched cohort, there was no association between mental disorders and SARS-CoV-2-positivity risk (odds ratio OR = 0.95; 95% CI 0.87-1.04); however, a higher risk was associated with schizophrenia-related disorders (OR = 1.50; 95% CI 1.14-1.99). Among confirmed COVID-19 patients, the mortality risk was significantly higher in patients with than in those without mental disorders (OR = 1.99, 95% CI 1.15-3.43).

CONCLUSIONS

Mental disorders are likely contributing factors to mortality following COVID-19. Although the infection risk was not higher for people with mental disorders overall, those with schizophrenia-related disorders were more vulnerable to infection.

Comparison of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Rates and 30-Day Postoperative Complications Between Patients With and Without Psychiatric Diagnoses

BACKGROUND

Psychiatric comorbidity is associated with greater 30-day postoperative complication rates in various surgical specialties, but is not well characterized for reconstructive plastic surgery.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to compare reconstructive plastic surgery rates and 30-day postoperative complications between patients with and without psychiatric diagnoses.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study comparing patients with and without psychiatric diagnoses. Data for January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2015 were collected from the IBM MarketScan Commercial and Medicare Supplemental Databases. Rates of reconstructive plastic surgery, demographic data, covariant diagnoses, and 30-day postoperative complications were collected. Differences between the 2 groups were assessed by multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

Among 1,019,128 patients (505,715 with psychiatric diagnoses and 513,423 without psychiatric diagnoses) assessed, reconstructive plastic surgery rates were between 4.8% and 7.0% in those with psychiatric diagnoses, compared with 1.6% in patients without psychiatric diagnoses. The greatest odds of undergoing reconstructive plastic surgery were in patients with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.76-5.67) and anxiety disorder (aOR, 3.08; 95% CI, 2.97-3.17). When assessing 1,234,206 patients (613,400 with psychiatric diagnoses and 620,806 without psychiatric diagnoses), all of whom underwent reconstructive plastic surgery, 2-fold greater odds of any 30-day postoperative complication was associated with psychiatric diagnoses (aOR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.28-3.11), as well as greater odds of specific complications (surgical site infection, bleeding, and hospital admission). Eating disorder diagnosis was associated with the greatest odds of a complication (aOR, 4.17; 95% CI, 3.59-4.86), followed by nasal surgery (aOR, 3.65; 95% CI, 2.74-4.89), and BDD (aOR, 3.16; 95% CI, 1.76-5.67).

CONCLUSIONS

Diagnosis of a psychiatric condition is associated with greater rates of reconstructive plastic surgery, and 2-fold greater odds of 30-day postoperative complications.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4

Patterns and Impact of Electronic Health Records-Defined Depression Phenotypes in Spine Surgery

BACKGROUND

Preoperative depression is a risk factor for poor outcomes after spine surgery.

OBJECTIVE

To understand effects of depression on spine surgery outcomes and healthcare resource utilization.

METHODS

Using IBM's MarketScan Database, we identified 52 480 patients who underwent spinal fusion. Retained patients were classified into 6 depression phenotype groups based on International Classification of Disease, 9th/10th Revision (ICD-9/10) codes and use/nonuse of antidepressant medications: major depressive disorder (MDD), other depression (OthDep), antidepressants for other psychiatric condition (PsychRx), antidepressants for physical (nonpsychiatric) condition (NoPsychRx), psychiatric condition only (PsychOnly), and no depression (NoDep). We analyzed baseline demographics, comorbidities, healthcare utilization/payments, and chronic opioid use.

RESULTS

Breakdown of groups in our cohort: MDD (15%), OthDep (12%), PsychRx (13%), NonPsychRx (15%), PsychOnly (12%), and NoDep (33%). Postsurgery: increased outpatient resource utilization, admissions, and medication refills at 1, 2, and 5 yr in the NoDep, PsychOnly, NonPsychRx, PsychRx, and OthDep groups, and highest in MDD. Postoperative opioid usage rates remained unchanged in MDD (44%) and OthDep (36%), and reduced in PsychRx (40%), NonPsychRx (31%), and PsychOnly (20%), with greatest reduction in NoDep (13%). Reoperation rates: 1 yr after index procedure, MDD, OthDep, PsychRx, NonPsychRx, and PsychOnly had more reoperations compared to NoDep, and same at 2 and 5 yr. In NoDep patients, 45% developed new depressive phenotype postsurgery.

CONCLUSION

EHR-defined classification allowed us to study in depth the effects of depression in spine surgery. This increased understanding of the interplay of mental health will help providers identify cohorts at risk for high complication rates, and health care utilization.

Association of Depression with In-Patient and Post-Discharge Disposition and Expenditures Among Medicare Beneficiaries Undergoing Resection for Cancer

BACKGROUND

The impact of depression on utilization of post-discharge care and overall episode of care expenditures remains poorly defined. We sought to define the impact of depression on postoperative outcomes, including discharge disposition, as well as overall expenditures associated with the global episode of surgical care.

METHOD

The Medicare 100% Standard Analytic Files were used to identify patients undergoing resection for esophageal, colon, rectal, pancreatic, and liver cancer between 2013 and 2017. The impact of depression on inpatient outcomes, as well as home health care and skilled nursing facilities utilization and expenditures, was analyzed.

RESULTS

Among 113,263 patients, 14,618 (12.9%) individuals had depression. Patients with depression were more likely to experience postoperative complications (odds ratio [OR] 1.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.31-1.42), extended length of stay (LOS) (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.36-1.47), readmission within 90 days (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.14-1.25), as well as 90-day mortality (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.27-1.42) (all p < 0.05). In turn, the proportion of patients who achieved a textbook outcome following cancer surgery was lower among patients with depression (no depression: 53.3% vs. depression: 45.3%; OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.68-0.73). Patients with a preexisting diagnosis of depression had higher odds of additional post-discharge expenditures compared with individuals without a diagnosis of depression (OR 1.42; 95% CI 1.35-1.50); patients with a preexisting diagnosis of depression ($10,500, IQR $3,200-$22,500) had higher median post-discharge expenditures versus patients without depression ($6600, IQR $2100-$17,400) (p < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, after controlling for other factors, depression remained associated with a 19.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] 15.7-22.3%) increase in post-discharge expenditures.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with depression undergoing resection for cancer had worse in-patient outcomes and were less likely to achieve a TO. Patients with depression were more likely to require post-discharge care and had higher post-discharge expenditures.

Poor Baseline Health of IBD Patients at Presentation to a Surgeon: Results From a Patient-Reported Outcomes Database

Background

Many patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are referred to surgeons when medical treatments are ineffective, signifying poor disease control. We aimed to assess the association of IBD diagnosis with physical and mental health upon presentation to a colorectal surgeon.

Methods

We included all new patients presenting to colorectal surgery clinic over 1.5 years. During registration, patients completed the PROMIS Global-10, a validated outcome measure assessing physical and mental health. We grouped patients by diagnosis: IBD, anorectal, benign colorectal, and malignancy. Details on IBD patients were obtained via chart review. We evaluated the interaction between PROMIS scores and diagnosis through ANOVA analysis and post hoc Tukey-Kramer pairwise comparison. We estimated the strength of association of age, sex, and visit diagnosis with poor physical and mental health (PROMIS: -1 SD) through logistic regression.

Results

Eight hundred ninety-seven patients were included. The cohort was as follows: IBD (99) (Crohn = 73; ulcerative colitis = 26), anorectal (378), benign colorectal (224), and malignancy (196). The mean age of patients was 56 (±17) years. Fifty-seven percent were female. The IBD group was youngest (P < 0.001). IBD had significantly lower PROMIS scores on pairwise comparison; anorectal had the highest scores. Controlling for age and sex, the IBD group had 4.1× odds of poor physical health (95% confidence interval 2.46-6.76) and 2.9× odds of poor mental health (95% confidence interval 1.66-5.00).

Conclusions

Patients with IBD, specifically Crohn disease, have worse physical and mental health on presentation to a colorectal surgeon compared to patients presenting with other colorectal diagnoses. These patients considering surgery might benefit from added support during the perioperative period.

Severe mental illness and health service utilisation for nonpsychiatric medical disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Psychiatric comorbidity is known to impact upon use of nonpsychiatric health services. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the specific impact of severe mental illness (SMI) on the use of inpatient, emergency, and primary care services for nonpsychiatric medical disorders.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

PubMed, Web of Science, PsychINFO, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library were searched for relevant studies up to October 2018. An updated search was carried out up to the end of February 2020. Studies were included if they assessed the impact of SMI on nonpsychiatric inpatient, emergency, and primary care service use in adults. Study designs eligible for review included observational cohort and case-control studies and randomised controlled trials. Random-effects meta-analyses of the effect of SMI on inpatient admissions, length of hospital stay, 30-day hospital readmission rates, and emergency department use were performed. This review protocol is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42019119516). Seventy-four studies were eligible for review. All were observational cohort or case-control studies carried out in high-income countries. Sample sizes ranged from 27 to 10,777,210. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for observational studies. The majority of studies (n = 45) were deemed to be of good quality. Narrative analysis showed that SMI led to increases in use of inpatient, emergency, and primary care services. Meta-analyses revealed that patients with SMI were more likely to be admitted as nonpsychiatric inpatients (pooled odds ratio [OR] = 1.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21-2.80, p = 0.005, I2 = 100%), had hospital stays that were increased by 0.59 days (pooled standardised mean difference = 0.59 days, 95% CI 0.36-0.83, p < 0.001, I2 = 100%), were more likely to be readmitted to hospital within 30 days (pooled OR = 1.37, 95% CI 1.28-1.47, p < 0.001, I2 = 83%), and were more likely to attend the emergency department (pooled OR = 1.97, 95% CI 1.41-2.76, p < 0.001, I2 = 99%) compared to patients without SMI. Study limitations include considerable heterogeneity across studies, meaning that results of meta-analyses should be interpreted with caution, and the fact that it was not always possible to determine whether service use outcomes definitively excluded mental health treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we found that SMI impacts significantly upon the use of nonpsychiatric health services. Illustrating and quantifying this helps to build a case for and guide the delivery of system-wide integration of mental and physical health services.

Impact of Nutritional Deficiencies on Children and Young Adults with Crohn's Disease Undergoing Intraabdominal Surgery

PURPOSE

We examined the impact of comorbidities on length of stay and total hospital charges for children and young adults with Crohn's Disease (CD) undergoing surgery.

METHODS

Patients (<21 years) were identified with a diagnosis of CD and an intraabdominal surgery in the Kids' Inpatient Database for the years 2006, 2009 and 2012. Length of stay (LOS) and total hospital charges (THC; USD$) were stratified by anemia, anxiety, depression and nutritional deficiency. National estimates were obtained using case weighting and multivariable linear regression was performed.

RESULTS

We identified 3224 CD admissions with an intraabdominal surgery. The population was predominantly male, non-Hispanic white, and high school aged. There was an increase in LOS and THC for nutritional deficiency in all study years, and for depression and anemia in specific years. Multivariable linear regression revealed a 3.3-5.5 day increase in LOS associated with a comorbid diagnosis of nutritional deficiency. However, no increase in THC was seen for any comorbidity under evaluation.

CONCLUSIONS

Behavioral health and, particularly, nutritional status have a significant impact on the care of children and young adults with CD. Nutritional deficiency, anemia, and depression resulted in increased LOS for those undergoing surgery. Improved presurgical management of comorbidities may reduce LOS for these patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

Are preoperative depression and anxiety associated with patient-reported outcomes, health care payments, and opioid use after anterior discectomy and fusion?

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Depression and anxiety are common psychiatric conditions among US adults, and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is one of the most commonly performed spinal surgeries. Mental health conditions can affect physical health, and thus have the potential to contribute to adverse outcomes after spine surgery; however, a comprehensive assessment of long-term outcomes and the additive economic burden of these conditions in patients undergoing ACDF has not been well described.

PURPOSE

Our goal was to assess the associations between depression/anxiety and adverse outcomes and health-resource utilization after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective database study.

PATIENT SAMPLE

We retrospectively analyzed a private administrative health claims database to identify patients who underwent ACDF in the United States from 2010 to 2013. A total of 16,306 patients met our inclusion criteria. Mean (± standard deviation) patient age was 50±7.9 years. Approximately 4,800 patients (30%) had a depression diagnosis and 4,000 (25%) had a diagnosis of anxiety.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcomes of interest were intensive care unit admission, multiday hospitalization, discharge disposition, 30- and 90-day hospital readmission, 1- and 2-year rates of revision surgery, and chronic postoperative opioid use. Secondary outcomes were 1- and 2-year total cumulative health care payments and cumulative postoperative opioid consumption.

METHODS

Regression models controlled for demographic and medical covariates, alpha=0.05.

RESULTS

A preoperative diagnosis of depression was associated with higher odds of multiday hospitalization (odds ratio [OR] 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.19), 90-day readmission (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.46-2.02), revision surgery within 2 years (OR 1.43 95% CI 1.16-1.76), and chronic postoperative opioid use (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.45-1.72) and an increase of $5,915 in adjusted 2-year health care payments (p<.001). Patients with a preoperative diagnosis of anxiety had higher odds of multiday hospitalization (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.06-1.25), revision surgery within 2 years (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.07-1.65), and chronic postoperative opioid use (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.48-1.77) and an increase of $4,471 in adjusted 2-year health care payments (p<.001). Neither anxiety nor depression was associated with intensive care unit admission, discharge disposition, 30-day readmission, revision surgery within 1 year, 1-year cumulative health care payments, or cumulative postoperative opioid consumption.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with preoperative diagnoses of depression or anxiety have a greater likelihood of adverse outcomes, increased opioid consumption, and increased cumulative health care payments after ACDF compared with patients without depression or anxiety.

Patients with a depressive and/or anxiety disorder can achieve optimum Long term outcomes after surgery for grade 1 spondylolisthesis: Analysis from the quality outcomes database (QOD)

INTRODUCTION

In the current study, we sought to compare baseline demographic, clinical, and operative characteristics, as well as baseline and follow-up patient reported outcomes (PROs) of patients with any depressive and/or anxiety disorder undergoing surgery for low-grade spondylolisthesis using a national spine registry.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The Quality Outcomes Database (QOD) was queried for patients undergoing surgery for Meyerding grade 1 lumbar spondylolisthesis undergoing 1-2 level decompression or 1 level fusion at 12 sites with the highest number of patients enrolled in QOD with 2-year follow-up data.

RESULTS

Of the 608 patients identified, 25.6 % (n = 156) had any depressive and/or anxiety disorder. Patients with a depressive/anxiety disorder were less likely to be discharged home (p < 0.001). At 3=months, patients with a depressive/anxiety disorder had higher back pain (p < 0.001), lower quality of life (p < 0.001) and higher disability (p = 0.013); at 2 year patients with depression and/or anxiety had lower quality of life compared to those without (p < 0.001). On multivariable regression, depression was associated with significantly lower odds of achieving 20 % or less ODI (OR 0.44, 95 % CI 0.21-0.94,p = 0.03). Presence of an anxiety disorder was not associated with decreased odds of achieving that milestone at 3 months. The presence of depressive-disorder, anxiety-disorder or both did not have an impact on ODI at 2 years. Finally, patient satisfaction at 2-years did not differ between the two groups (79.8 % vs 82.7 %,p = 0.503).

CONCLUSION

We found that presence of a depressive-disorder may impact short-term outcomes among patients undergoing surgery for low grade spondylolisthesis but longer term outcomes are not affected by either a depressive or anxiety disorder.

Mental illnesses among patients undergoing elective anterior cervical discectomy and fusion: Analysis from the National Readmissions Database

OBJECTIVE

Patients with a comorbid mental illness have been observed to have worse outcomes following surgery. However, little is known about the effects of mental disorders on patient outcomes following spinal surgery. In the current study, we sought to investigate the characteristics of patients with mental illness, particularly anxiety, major depressive disorder, concurrent anxiety and schizophrenia, and the impact of these comorbid conditions on outcomes of patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) using a national administrative database.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The National Readmissions Database (NRD) was queried for patients undergoing an ACDF between 2012 and September 30th, 2015. The presence of anxiety, major depressive disorder, concurrent anxiety and schizophrenia were captured using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes. Multivariable logistic regression was used to establish an association between a mental comorbidity and risk of 30- and 90- day readmission.

RESULTS

A total of 139,877 patients undergoing elective ACDF between 2012-2015 were identified, of which 15,927 (11.39 %) had anxiety, 514 (0.38 %) had major depressive disorder, 248 (0.18 %) had concurrent anxiety and major depressive disorder, and 287 (0.21 %) had schizophrenia. Upon multivariable analysis of procedural related readmissions, adjusting for an array of patient and hospital related factors, patients with schizophrenia, compared to controls, had a significantly higher risk of 30-day readmission (OR 2.62, 95 %CI 1.42-4.84, p = 0.002); moreover, schizophrenia (OR = 1.92, 95 % CI 1.13-3.25, p = 0.016) anxiety (OR = 1.13, 95 %CI 1.02-1.26, p = 0.023) were also associated with significantly higher risk of 90-day readmission.

CONCLUSION

Our analysis indicates that mental illness comorbidities may be associated with increased rates of procedure related readmission and longer length of stay following elective ACDF.

Clinical Features and Long-Term Outcomes of Living Donors of Liver Transplantation Who Developed Psychiatric Disorders

BACKGROUND In the field of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), it is important to ensure donor's psychological well-being. We report on clinical features and long-term outcomes of LDLT donors who developed psychiatric disorders after their donor operations. Additionally, we compare patient backgrounds, as well as surgical and perioperative aspects between LDLT donors with and without postoperative psychiatric complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS Between November 1998 and March 2018, we identified 254 LDLT donors at our hospital. Among these, we investigated those who had newly developed psychiatric complications and required psychiatric treatment after donor operation. RESULTS The median duration of follow-up was 4 years. Sixty-five donors were lost to follow-up. Eight donors (3.1%) developed postoperative psychiatric complications, including major depressive disorder in 4, panic disorder in 2, conversion disorder and panic disorder in 1, and adjustment disorder in 1. The median duration from donor surgery to psychiatric diagnosis was 104.5 days (range, 12 to 657 days) and the median treatment duration was 18 months (range, 3 to 168 months). Of those, 3 donors required psychiatric treatment over 10 years, and 4 donors remained under treatment. The duration of hospital stay after donor operation was significantly longer and perioperative complications with Clavien classification greater than grade IIIa were more frequent in donors with psychiatric complications than in those without psychiatric complications (P=0.02 and P=0.006, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment for psychiatric disorders by psychiatrists and psychologists are important during LDLT donor follow-up. Minimization of physiological complications might be important to prevent postoperative psychiatric complications in LDLT donors.