KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The study aimed to investigate the association between depression and anxiety and CRC mortality.
- Researchers noticed that depression and anxiety independently predict CRC survival, emphasizing the need for early detection and treatment.
Depression and anxiety are prevalent among colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, yet their impact on cancer mortality remains uncertain.
Shijun Xia and the team aimed to assess the prognostic value of depression and anxiety in CRC patients.
Researchers performed an inclusive analysis based on a systematic literature search, incorporating 12 eligible studies involving 26,907 patients with CRC.
The univariate analysis demonstrated that anxiety correlated with an all-cause mortality rate of 1.42 (1.02, 1.96), while multivariate analysis indicated no significant association, reporting a rate of 0.73 (0.39, 1.36). For depression, univariate analysis revealed all-cause mortality rates of 1.89 (1.68, 2.13), with multivariate analysis showing rates of 1.62 (1.27, 2.06).
However, depression did not correlated with cancer-associated mortality in multivariate analyses, with a rate of 1.16 (0.91, 1.48). Subgroup analysis found that younger age (≤65 years), depression/anxiety diagnosis post-cancer diagnosis, and shorter follow-up (<5 years) were linked to poorer prognosis.
The study concluded that depression and anxiety play crucial roles as independent predictors of survival in CRC patients. However, due to significant heterogeneity among the studies, caution is advised when interpreting the results. Early detection and treatment of depression and anxiety in CRC patients hold considerable public health and clinical significance.
The study was sponsored by funding allocated for the development of key clinical specialties in Futian District, Shenzhen.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38563889/
Xia S, Zhu Y, Luo L, et al. (2024). “Prognostic value of depression and anxiety on colorectal cancer-related mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis based on univariate and multivariate data.” Int J Colorectal Dis. 2024 Apr 2;39(1):45. doi: 10.1007/s00384-024-04619-6. PMID: 38563889; PMCID: PMC10987367.
