The influence of mental health on early outcomes following total hip arthroplasty

Background Poor mental health is difficult to recognize and as a result, its association with recovery from total joint arthroplasty is difficult to assess. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between overall mental health scores and outcomes in the early postoperative period following unilateral total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods This is a retrospective review of prospectively collected data involving 142 patients who underwent primary unilateral THA. Independent variables included patient demographics and preoperative Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS), Global Physical Health (GPH) and Global Mental Health (GMH) and Hip Disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Joint Replacement (HOOS JR) scores as well as diagnoses of depression or anxiety. Dependent variables included length of stay (LOS), disposition at discharge, narcotic consumption until discharge, 6-week postoperative GPH, GMH and HOOS JR scores and magnitude of change compared to preoperative scores. Preoperative GMH and postoperative outcomes were compared using Pearson correlation coefficient, independent t-tests, Pearson ' s Chi-Square test, and univariate logistic regression. Results Patients with preoperative GMH scores below the 25% quartile were less likely to be discharged home and resulted in lower GPH, GMH and HOOS JR scores at 6-week follow-up compared to patients with preoperative GMH scores in the top 25% quartile. However, patients with low preoperative GMH scores demonstrated a greater magnitude of improvement in both the GPH and GMH scores compared to patients in the top 25% quartile. There was no difference in opioid consumption or LOS between either groups. When comparing patients with and without depression/anxiety, no difference was seen in any of the outcomes measured. Conclusion Unilateral THA offers significant improvements in both physical and mental function to patients with hip osteoarthritis and poor mental health, though overall scores remain lower than in those with better mental health.