Poster Presentation 33rd ASM of the Australian & New Zealand Bone & Mineral Society 2023

Prevalence of diagnosable depression in patients awaiting orthopaedic specialist consultation: a cross-sectional analysis (#232)

Rhiannon Patten 1 , Alev Asilioglu 1 , Itamar Levinger 1 , Alexander Tacey 1 , Michaela Pascoe 1 , Phong Tran 2 , Michael McKenna 1 , Catherine Said 3 , Natali Coric 2 , Mary De Gori 4 , Rebecca Lane 5 , Vasso Apostolopoulos 1 , Mary Woessner 1 , Alex Parker 1
  1. Victoria University, Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Western Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  3. Physiotherapy, Melbourne School of Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Western Health, Melbourne, Australia
  4. Physiotherapy, Western Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  5. Physiotherapy, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Objectives 

To determine the prevalence and severity of depression and pain in individuals awaiting specialist orthopaedic consultation. Secondarily, to determine the relationship between pain and depression.

Methods 

Cross-sectional analysis of individuals awaiting orthopaedic consultation at a public hospital in Melbourne, Australia. Relevant data were extracted from medical records and questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise participant characteristics. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to establish the relationship between pain and depression.

Results 

Participants: 986 adults (54.1 ± 15.7 years, 53.2% women) participated in the study. Osteoarthritis (OA) was present in 56% of the population. 34% of the entire population had moderate depression or greater, 19% of which met the criteria for major depressive disorder. Moderate-to-severe pain was present in 79% of individuals with OA and 55% of individuals with other musculoskeletal complaints. Pain was significantly associated with depression scores (β = 0.84, adjusted R2 = 0.13, P <0.001). This relationship remained significant after accounting for gender, age, education and employment status, OA status, number of joints affected and waiting time (β = 0.91, adjusted R2 = 0.19, P <0.001).

Conclusions 

Depression affects one-third of individuals on an orthopaedic waitlist. A strong link between pain and depression in patients awaiting specialist orthopaedic consultation exists, indicating a need for an integrated approach in addressing pain management and depression to manage this complex and comorbid presentation.