The goal of this observational study is to learn about the prevalence of postoperative anxiety and depression symptoms and identify the related risk factors in elderly patients aged 65 and older who undergo non-cardiac surgery in China.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

What is the prevalence rate of postoperative anxiety symptoms in elderly Chinese patients after non-cardiac surgery?

What is the prevalence rate of postoperative depression symptoms in elderly Chinese patients after non-cardiac surgery?

What are the risk and protective factors linked to postoperative anxiety and depression symptoms in this patient population?

Participants will undergo routine non-cardiac surgery as part of their standard medical care, and researchers will collect relevant clinical data and assess their anxiety and depression symptoms using standardized screening scales after surgery.

This is a multicenter, retrospective observational study conducted across 19 medical centers in China, enrolling a total of 8590 elderly patients aged 65 years and above who received non-cardiac surgery between April 1, 2020, and April 30, 2022. The study was designed to fill the gap of lacking comprehensive epidemiological data on postoperative mental health disorders in this specific patient group in China, focusing on postoperative anxiety and depression symptoms that are tied to various adverse medical and social outcomes.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. elderly patients (age ≥ 65 years)
2. undergoing elective surgery with a planned overnight hospital stay following surgery
3. non-cardiac surgery, non-neurosurgical surgery
4. patients who complete the scale assessment

Exclusion Criteria:

1. patients fully refused to participate in the study
2. patients with severe dementia, language disorder, severe hearing or visual impairment, coma, and end-stage status
3. patients whose surgeries were canceled
4. history of previous severe mental illness or long-term use of psychotropic medications
5. patients admitted to ICU immediately after surgery
6. patients who died within 7 days after surgery

Elderly patients (aged ≥ 65 years) who completed the anxiety and depression assessment after the elective noncardiac, non-neurosurgical surgery were included in this study.