Anxiety and/or depression: which symptoms contribute to adverse clinical outcomes after amputation?

BACKGROUND

One of the most serious complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) is a diabetic foot ulcer (DFU), with lower extremity amputation (LEA).

AIMS: This study aims to explore the role of anxiety and depression on mortality, reamputation and healing, after a LEA due to DFU.

METHODS

A sample of 149 patients with DFU who underwent LEA answered the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire. This is a longitudinal and multicenter study with four assessment moments that used Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for demographic and clinical variables.

RESULTS

Rate of mortality, reamputation and healing, 10 months after LEA were 9.4%, 27.5% and 61.7%, respectively. Anxiety, at baseline, was negatively associated with healing. However, depression was not an independent predictor of mortality. None of the psychological factors was associated with reamputation.

CONCLUSION

Results highlight the significant contribution of anxiety symptoms at pre-surgery, to healing after a LEA. Suggestions for psychological interventions are made.