Self-reported depression in cancer survivors versus the general population: a population-based propensity score-matching analysis

Purpose The purpose of the study was to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and depression in community-dwelling cancer survivors using structured questionnaires and propensity score matching (PSM). Methods Subjects (age >= 30 years) who participated in the Sixth Korean National Health and Nutritional Exam Survey completed the EuroQoL5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). For the analysis, participants were divided into a cancer survivor group and a group consisting of the general cancer-free population. We compared PHQ-9 and EQ-5D Utility Index scores between the two groups, while controlling for underlying baseline demographic and clinical differences between groups using PSM. Additionally, we divided cancer survivors into two group (< 5 vs. >= 5 years since cancer diagnosis), and we evaluated whether the cancer prevalence period was associated with the EQ-5D Utility Index score. Result Of all 4124 subjects, 208 cancer survivors were matched with 624 controls using PSM. PHQ-9 and EQ-5D scores in cancer survivors were not different from the general population. In unadjusted subgroup analyses, PHQ-9 scores and EQ-5D proportion of subjects with anxiety/depression (23.3% vs. 7.6%) were higher in cancer survivors with < 5 years since cancer diagnosis compared to those with >= 5 years. In multivariate analyses, predictors of depression in cancer survivors included household income and employment status, and predictors of HRQoL-included household income and subjective perceived health status. Period since the cancer diagnosis was not a predictor of either depression or HRQoL. Conclusions Depression and HRQoL in cancer survivors were similar to that experienced by the general population, and household income, perceived subjective health status and employment status were the main factors affecting depression and HRQoL in cancer survivors.