Abstract
BACKGROUND: Orthopedics is one of the specialized fields of medicine and its residency has always been of interest. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to evaluate the prevalence of depression and anxiety among orthopedic residents. METHODS: Digital databases such as PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were systematically searched until July 27, 2024. RESULTS: The analysis included a total of 10 studies for anxiety (1,758 cases, 374 anxiety cases) and depression (2,389 cases, 381 depression cases). The pooled prevalence of anxiety was 31.6% [95% CI: 18.04-45.26%] with significant publication bias (Egger's test p = 0.0257). After removing a potential outlier, the prevalence of anxiety was recalculated as 25% [95% CI: 16.61-34.01%]. The pooled prevalence of depression was 22.2% [95% CI: 12.08-32.51%] with significant publication bias (Egger's test p = 0.0434). After removing a potential outlier, the prevalence of depression was recalculated as 18.6% [95% CI: 10.27-26.92%], showing no significant publication bias (Egger's test p = 0.1229). CONCLUSION: Depression and anxiety are highly prevalent among orthopedic residents, with significant levels of psychological distress affecting nearly one-third of this population.