Why the study?
Does preexisting mental illness affect postoperative outcomes in Medicare beneficiaries?
Does preexisting mental illness affect postoperative outcomes in Medicare beneficiaries?
Preexisting mental illness is highly prevalent among Medicare beneficiaries and is strongly associated with worse postoperative outcomes and suicide risk, highlighting the need for preoperative mental health optimization.
Associated risks may inform perioperative risk stratification; extends prior associations but leaves causal effects of optimization open.
Three in 10 Medicare beneficiaries had a preexisting mental illness diagnosis, which was strongly associated with worse postoperative outcomes, as well as suicide risk. Surgeons need to optimize mental health assessment and services in the preoperative setting to improve outcomes for this vulnerable population.
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Paredes et al. (2020) studied this question.
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