Examining the prevalence of anxiety and depression in surgical oncology patients: Results of a prospective cohort study.

Abstract

734 Background: Prospective data assessing prevalence of anxiety and depression in a diverse surgical oncology population are currently lacking. Psychological distress may affect patient outcomes in the postoperative setting. The General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9) surveys are validated instruments to assess severity of anxiety and depression, respectively. We aimed to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression using validated screening tools, and assess associations between anxiety and depression with clinical outcomes in patients presenting to our surgical oncology clinic. Methods: A prospective, surgeon-blinded study was conducted to assess associations of anxiety and depression with postoperative outcomes in patients with histologically proven malignancy who underwent surgical intervention. Preoperatively, the GAD and PHQ9 surveys were administered to evaluate for anxiety and depression, respectively. Frailty level was also assessed using the validated Risk Analysis Index (RAI-C) survey. Postoperative outcomes included rates of ICU admission, 30- and 90-day readmissions, postoperative complications classified by Clavien-Dindo score, and disposition to home versus rehabilitation facilities. Outcomes were compared between different groups as defined by the severity of anxiety and depression. Results: 191 patients met inclusion criteria. The cohort was stratified into three groups by severity of anxiety and depression. Overall, 59 (31%) patients reported at least moderate anxiety as defined by a GAD score ≥5, with 30 (15.7%) patients reporting severe anxiety (GAD score ≥ 10). Similarly, 62 (32%) patients reported at least mild depression as defined by a PHQ9 score ≥5, with 21 (11%) patients experiencing moderate to severe depression (PHQ9 ≥ 10). No difference was detected in length of stay, ICU admission, 30- and 90-day readmission, and postoperative complications. Preoperative frailty, as defined by RAI-C score >21, was also not associated with anxiety or depression. Marital status of single or widowed was found to be significantly associated with mild depression (p=0.027) and moderate to severe depression (p=0.028), respectively. Conclusions: While anxiety and depression were not found to be significantly associated with postoperative outcomes, they are prevalent in surgical oncology patients, affecting approximately one-third of our patient population. The GAD and PHQ9 surveys are validated instruments that can be administered easily to identify surgical oncology patients with psychological distress. Comprehensive evaluation of psychological well-being, in conjunction with a thorough social evaluation, can identify those patients who may benefit from referral to supportive resources.