Prevalence of Depression Screening in Preoperative Patients: A Prospective Study from Singapore

Background: Depression is under-recognised in surgical populations despite its association with adverse postoperative outcomes. Data from Southeast Asian perioperative settings remain limited. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of clinically significant depression in a preoperative population in Singapore.&nbsp; <div> <br> </div> <div> Methods: We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study at Singapore General Hospital in October 2025. Adults aged ≥21 years presenting for elective surgery completed a two-stage screening protocol using the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2), followed by the PHQ-9 for those scoring ≥3. The primary outcome was prevalence of clinically significant depression (PHQ-9 ≥10). Analyses were descriptive, with comparisons by age and sex.&nbsp; </div> <div> <br> </div> <div> Findings: 255 patients were included (median age 58 years [IQR 42–69]; 136 [53·3%] female). Eighteen patients (7·1%) screened positive on PHQ-2 and completed PHQ-9. Clinically significant depressive symptoms were identified in 12 patients (4·7% [95% CI 2·5–8·0]). Prevalence was highest in patients aged 21–40 years (8·8%) and decreased with age, with no cases observed in those aged ≥71 years. Depression was more frequent in females than males, although differences were not statistically significant.&nbsp; </div> <div> <br> </div> <div> Interpretation: Approximately one in 20 preoperative patients had clinically significant depressive symptoms, most without prior diagnosis. Routine preoperative screening is feasible and may identify at-risk individuals, particularly younger patients and females. Further studies should evaluate whether targeted perioperative interventions improve outcomes.Funding: None. </div>

Duke Scholars

Author Karthik Raghunathan Anesthesiology, VA Anesthesiology Service