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. 2022 Feb 2;22(1):134.
doi: 10.1186/s12885-022-09215-x.

Depressive and anxiety symptoms among Japanese cancer survivors: Japan cancer survivorship research project

Motoki Endo  1 , Kentaro Matsui  2   3 , Rie Akaho  2 , Kiyomi Mitsui  4 , Yan Yan  5 , Yuya Imai  6 , Yuito Ueda  6 , Go Muto  7 , Gautam A Deshpande  8 , Yasuhisa Terao  9 , Satoru Takeda  9 , Mitsue Saito  10 , Kazuhiko Hayashi  11 , Katsuji Nishimura  2 , Takeshi Tanigawa  6
Affiliations

Depressive and anxiety symptoms among Japanese cancer survivors: Japan cancer survivorship research project

Motoki Endo et al. BMC Cancer. .

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to clarify predictors of depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms after cancer diagnosis among Japanese cancer survivors (CSs).

Methods: As part of a Japanese cancer survivorship research project commissioned by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan, we conducted a web-based nationwide survey of CSs in 2018. We analyzed the risk factors for depressive and anxiety symptoms, as measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale Japanese version (HADS).

Results: Of 1,234 Japanese CSs, mean score of HADS-depression and HADS-anxiety were 4.08 and 4.78, respectively. At the time of the study, the number of CSs with symptoms of depression and anxiety were 111 (9.0%) and 269 (21.8%), respectively. After multivariable analysis, CSs ≥ 60 years old (reference: ≤ 39 years old, odds ratios (OR): 0.39, 95%CI: 0.17-0.90) and those ≥ 10 years from cancer diagnosis (reference: 0-4 years, OR: 0.55, 95%CI: 0.32-0.96) had lower odds for depressive symptoms. And CSs ≥ 60 years old (reference: ≤ 39 years old, OR: 0.27, 95%CI: 0.15-0.49) and those ≥ 10 years from cancer diagnosis (reference: 0-4 years, OR: 0.62, 95%CI: 0.42-0.90) also had lower odds for anxiety symptoms. CSs who received chemotherapy (OR: 1.56, 95%CI: 1.10-2.20) had higher odds for anxiety symptoms.

Conclusions: Based on manifestation of symptoms, CSs who were younger, closer to the time of cancer diagnosis, had advanced-staged cancer, or received chemotherapy may be at higher risk for depressive or anxiety symptoms. Those CSs who have higher risk for depression and anxiety symptoms, should be followed-up more carefully for better cancer survivorship, by medical professionals, companies, and society.

Keywords: Anxiety; Cancer survivors; Depressive symptoms; HADS.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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