Factors Associated with Depression Assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 in Long-Term Cancer Survivors.
10.4082/kjfm.2016.37.4.228
- Author:
Ae Jin GOO
1
;
Yun Mi SONG
;
Jinyoung SHIN
;
Hyeonyoung KO
Author Information
1. Department of Family Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. yunmisong@skku.edu
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Survivors;
Depression;
Fatigue;
Koreans
- MeSH:
Appetite;
Asian Continental Ancestry Group;
Breast;
Comorbidity;
Cross-Sectional Studies;
Depression*;
Depressive Disorder;
Dyspepsia;
Fatigue;
Health Behavior;
Humans;
Korea;
Logistic Models;
Lung;
Medical Records;
Mouth;
Prevalence;
Stomach;
Survivors*;
Tertiary Care Centers;
Thyroid Neoplasms
- From:Korean Journal of Family Medicine
2016;37(4):228-234
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of depressive disorders and factors associated in long-term cancer survivors. METHODS: A total of 702 long-term cancer survivors over 5-years in remission were recruited in a university-affiliated tertiary hospital in Korea. Self-report using the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 and the Fatigue Severity Scale assessed depression and fatigue, respectively. Demographic characteristics, cancer-related clinical characteristics, comorbidity, health behaviors, and physical symptoms were assessed through the review of medical records or a structured self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: We identified 26.1% of patients who had a depressed mood or displayed a loss of interest. The most prevalent primary site of cancer was the stomach (65.2%), followed by lung, breast, colorectal, and thyroid cancer. We also found that 5.7% of subjects experienced double or triple primary cancers. Larger proportion among depressive group (89.1%) complained at least one physical problem than among non-depressive group (53.2%). Physical symptoms including sleep problems, dry mouth, indigestion, pain, decreased appetite, and febrile sense were more frequent in the depressive group than in the non-depressive group. The Fatigue Severity Scale scores were higher in the depressive group than in the non-depressive group (P<0.001). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the highest tertile level of fatigue (odds ratio, 7.31; 95% confidence interval, 3.81-14.02) was associated with the increased risk of depression. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that careful concern about depression is necessary in long-term cancer survivors. Fatigue may be a surrogate sign for depression, and warrants further evaluation.
