Preoperative anxiety assessment in orthopaedic surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis
摘要
Preoperative anxiety (Pop-Anx) is highly prevalent among patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery. Pop-Anx can stem from fears related to the procedure, anaesthesia, or the recovery process. It has been linked to poorer postoperative outcomes, including greater pain, reduced function, and a lower quality of life. Despite its clinical significance, Pop-Anx is inconsistently assessed due to a lack of standardized tools and clear guidelines. The objective was to identify instruments used for measuring Pop-Anx in patients undergoing orthopaedic surgeries.
MethodsA systematic search was conducted across five databases up to September 2024, following PRISMA guidelines. Data on anxiety assessment tools, timing, administration, and related outcomes were extracted. Meta-analyses were conducted on studies with a low risk of bias using random-effects models.
ResultsScreening of the literature revealed that 42 studies assessed Pop-Anx, involving a total of 115,380 patients. Ten different tools were used to measure Pop-Anx, with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) being the most frequent. Significant variability was observed in assessment timing and methodology. A meta-analysis showed that Pop-Anx was positively correlated with postoperative anxiety (z = 0.60) and pain (z = 0.22) and negatively correlated with joint function (z = -0.25). Females reported higher Pop-Anx (g = 0.38). The timing of outcome assessment did not significantly moderate these relationships.
ConclusionAlthough Pop-Anx is associated with worse postoperative outcomes, it is assessed using heterogeneous and sometimes inadequate tools. Standardized, context-specific assessment methods are needed. Despite its clinical relevance, Pop-Anx remains underassessed in some common orthopaedic procedures.