Trends in Systemic Comorbidity Profiles of Patients Undergoing Artificial Joint Replacement on the Lower Extremities

Background: Geriatric patients undergoing artificial joint replacement have increased not only in numbers but in age over the past years. These patients usually have accompanying comorbidities which may be increased by age itself and these comorbidities increases clinical challenge while undergoing anesthesia. Methods: Raw data from 1992 to 2006 undergoing artificial joint replacement were collected and investigated retrospectively. Five-year periods of interest (POI) were created for analysis. POI I is five-year periods of interest from 1992 to 1996, POI II from 1997 to 2001 and POI III from 2002 to 2006. Changes in demographic variables and prevalence of a variety of comorbidities were statistically evaluated. Results: We identified 4,196 patients in whom artificial joint replacement was performed between 1992 and 2006. Of those, 805, 1,212 and 2,179 were performed in POI I, POI II and POI III, respectively. The average age and the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus increased significantly. Conclusions: The prevalence of comorbid diseases among the patients undergoing artificial joint replacement has increased significantly for hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Also increase in average age of patients undergoing surgery as well as accompanying comorbidities pose an increased clinical challenge. A thorough preanesthetic evaluation and optimal anesthetic technique is necessary to decrease the morbidity and mortality in geriatric patients undergoing artificial joint replacement on the lower extremities. (Korean J Anesthesiol 2008; 54: 406∼10)