A comparative study of depressive symptoms and survival in patients with lung cancer

Abstract

Objective To explore the changes of depression in patients with lung cancer and their impacts on the survival period, so to provide evidence for psychological treatment of patients with lung cancer. Methods 339 lung cancer patients diagnosed and treated in our hospital and other hospital from 2010 to 2013 were included. The depression status of patients was diagnosed by the Depression Scale of Epidemiological Research Center and followed up every year. To observe the changes of depressive symptoms during the survival period, and to evaluate the impact of depressive symptoms on the survival rate of patients. Results Among 339 participants, 133 (39%) had depression symptoms at baseline and an additional 71 (21%) developed new-onset depression symptoms during treatment. At baseline, depression symptoms were associated with increased mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.19, 95% CI: 1.04-1.34). Participants were classified into the following four groups based on longitudinal changes in depression symptoms from baseline to follow-up: never depression symptoms (n=135), new-onset depression symptoms (n=71), depression symptom remission (n=46), and persistent depression symptoms (n=87). HRs were as follows: new-onset depression symptoms, 1.36 (95% CI: 1.12-1.61), depression symptom remission, 1.11 (95% CI: 0.97-1.25), and persistent depression symptoms, 1.33 (95% CI: 1.09-1.57). Conclusions Among patients with lung cancer, longitudinal changes in depression symptoms are associated with differences in mortality. Symptom remission is associated with a similar mortality rate as never having had depression, which is lower than that in persistent and new-onset depression symptoms. Key words: Lung neoplasms; Depression; Survival rate