Depressed Mood as a Significant Risk Factor for Gynecological Cancer Aggravation

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 20; no. 19; p. 6874
• Main Authors: Lee, Seon-Mi, Song, Jae-Yun, Seol, Aeran, Lee, Sanghoon, Cho, Hyun-Woong, Min, Kyung-Jin, Hong, Jin-Hwa, Lee, Jae-Kwan, Lee, Nak-Woo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 02.10.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Emotions; Endometrial cancer; Gynecological cancer; Health insurance; Ovarian cancer
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20196874

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between depressed mood and gynecological cancer outcomes, identifying risk factors for cancer aggravation. Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis of gynecological cancer patients (January 2020–August 2022) at Korea University Anam Hospital using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Patients were classified into non-depressed mood (NDM)- and depressed mood (DM)-based scores. Statistical analysis was performed using Student’s t-test, chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, Kaplan–Meier analysis, and Cox regression analyzing using SPSS. Results: Of the 217 participants, the NDM group comprised 129 patients, and the DM group comprised 88. The two-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates showed significant differences (NDM, 93.6%; DM 86.4%; p = 0.006), but overall survival (OS) did not (p = 0.128). Patients with stage 3 or higher cancer, undergoing five or more chemotherapies, experiencing post-chemotherapy side effects, and depressed mood had an increased risk of cancer aggravation. Conclusions: Appropriate treatment of depressed mood, as well as adequate treatment for advanced gynecological cancer patients, those with numerous CTx., and those with post-CTx. side effects, may contribute to reducing the risk of cancer aggravation.