Abstract 4859: Mental health of early-onset and late-onset cancer survivors

Abstract

Abstract Background: Psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression are shown to be common when diagnosed with early-onset cancer, often defined as cancers diagnosed in adults <50 years of age. We hypothesize that the mental health of early-onset cancer survivors is negatively affected compared to late-onset cancer survivors. Methods: We identified cancer survivors in the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 2021 Full Year Consolidated Data File. We categorized cancer survivors as early-onset (≤ 50 years of age) and late-onset (> 50 years of age). We examined the proportion of mood and anxiety disorders, and the proportion of antidepressant and antianxiety medication use among the early and late-onset cancer survivors. We conducted chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression models by adjusting for sex and race. Results: We identified 291 early-onset cancer survivors (mean age 41 years, 71% female) and 2556 late-onset cancer survivors (mean age 71 years, 56% female). Among the early-onset cancer survivors, 18% had mood disorders (17% took antidepressants) and 20% had anxiety disorders (6% took antianxiety medication). In comparison, 12% late-onset cancer survivors had mood disorders (21% took antidepressants) and 13% had anxiety disorders (8% took antianxiety medication). Early-onset cancer survivors were more likely to develop mood (Adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR)=1.45; 95% CI=1.06 - 1.99) and anxiety (aOR=1.42; 95% CI=1.05 - 1.92) disorders compared to late-onset cancer survivors. However, there were no differences in receiving antidepressants (aOR=0.79; 95% CI=0.57 - 1.09) or antianxiety (aOR=0.69; 95% CI=0.41 - 1.16) medication between early and late-onset cancer survivors when adjusting for sex and race. Conclusion: Early-onset cancer survivors had an elevated risk of acquiring psychiatric disorders such as mood and anxiety disorders than late-onset cancer survivors, but treatment was suboptimal. Clinician and patient awareness can help narrow the gaps of treatment for early-onset cancer survivors. Table 3. Odds Ratio for early-onset vs. late-onset cancer survivors (*Sex and Race adjusted) Variables Crude Odds Ratio Adjusted Odds Ratio * Mood Disorders 1.48 (1.09 - 2.00) 1.45 (1.06 - 1.99) Anxiety Disorder 1.52 (1.13 - 2.03) 1.42 (1.05 - 1.92) Antidepressants 0.80 (0.59 - 1.10) 0.79 (0.57 - 1.09) Antianxiety 0.70 (0.42 - 1.17) 0.69 (0.41 - 1.16) Citation Format: Jayden H. Lee, Jaejin An. Mental health of early-onset and late-onset cancer survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 4859.