1589P - The Suicide Ideation of Stomach Cancer Survivors and its Correlates in Korea

Abstract

ABSTRACT Purpose Although the suicide rate of cancer-survivors is higher compare to that of general population, there are few studies examined on the suicide related risk factors. We evaluate the suicide ideation and investigate its correlates among the survivors with stomach cancer, which is one of the most prevalent cancer in Korea. Method We requested 391 stage I-III stomach cancer survivors to participate. Our population was composed of patients who were diagnosed of cancer between year 2001 and 2002 and had been disease-free for at least 1 year. Our survey contained demographic characteristics as well as Quality of Life (QOL) assessments including European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 and its stomach module, McGill Quality of Life (MQOL), Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) and Question 9 of Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) regarding suicide ideation. We performed multi-variable logistic regression for the all individuals except the 13 individuals who missed Question 9 of BDI. Results Of 378 stomach cancer survivors, 131 (34.65%) experienced suicide ideation and univariate analyses showed that monthly income, comorbidity and smoking in the demographic category were statistically significant. General health status, emotional functioning, fatigue, nausea, dyspnea, appetite loss, constipation, diarrhea, financial problem, eating restriction, anxiety, dry mouth, trouble belching, hair loss, body image, existential well-being and social support in QOL category were statistically significant. The multi-variable logistic regression using the variables that were statistically significant in univariate analyses showed that diarrhea (adjusted odds ratio[aOR] 2.84; 95% confidential interval[CI]1.44-5.62), hair loss (aOR 2.77; 95%CI 1.04-7.36), poor existential well-being (aOR, 6.18; 95% CI 2.91-13.1), and poor usual fatigue (aOR 2.29; 95% CI 1.30-4.06) were statistically significant for suicide ideation. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that high prevalence of suicide ideation among stomach cancer survivors and survivors who had diarrhea, hair loss, fatigue poor existential well-being tend to have greater suicide ideation. It is critical to identify suicide ideation among cancer survivors, especially with diarrhea, hair loss, fatigue, and poor existential well-being. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.