Anxiety and Depression Symptoms in Patients with Burn Injuries at Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Colombia: Study of Patient-Reported Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Burn injuries impose substantial physical and psychological burden beyond acute wound care. Anxiety and depressive symptoms are frequent but often underrecognized among burn survivors. Routine patient-reported mental health assessment during hospitalization and after discharge remains limited, particularly in Latin American burn care settings. This study described the early trajectory of patient-reported anxiety and depressive symptoms from hospitalization to three-month follow-up among adult burn patients treated at Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Colombia. METHODS: We conducted an observational cohort study including adult patients admitted to the Burn Unit between April 2022 and July 2023. Anxiety and depressive symptoms were assessed during hospitalization and at three months using the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety and Depression Scales. Scores ≥50 were considered clinically relevant. RESULTS: A total of 118 patients with complete paired assessments were included. Clinically relevant anxiety symptoms increased from 19% during hospitalization to 29% at three months, while depressive symptoms were present in 32% and 29%, respectively. Severe burns and low educational attainment were associated with higher odds of clinically relevant symptoms at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Patient-reported anxiety and depressive symptoms were frequent during early burn recovery, supporting routine PROM-based mental health assessment and timely psychological follow-up.