title: Depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life in breast cancer survivors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast cancer diagnosis and treatment can have a profound influence on a woman's physical, psychosocial, and overall well-being. We examined the prevalence of depressive symptoms and its association with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in women who are survivors of breast cancer. We also assessed if factors, including metastasis, cancer recurrence, diagnosis of new primary cancers, and comorbid conditions, are associated with depressive symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 were mailed to assess depressive symptoms and HRQOL, respectively, in breast cancer patients who received cancer treatment in a large tertiary cancer center.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred forty patients participated (56% response rate and 6-13 years since treatment). The mean score on the PHQ-8 scale was 4 points (standard deviation [SD] 4.8, median 2.0). Sixteen percent had PHQ-8 score ≥10 and were categorized as depressed. Depression was inversely associated with HRQOL subscales for functioning, financial, and global health and positively associated with symptoms. Logistic regression showed that younger age (odds ratio [OR] age in years 0.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.86- 0.99, p<0.02), rheumatoid arthritis (OR 8.4, 95%CI 1.3-57.4, p<0.03), and years from treatment (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.46-0.99, p<0.05) were significant correlates of depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depression is a significant health concern for breast cancer survivors and is associated with lower HRQOL. The results suggest the need to monitor women with breast cancer for depression and provide resources for treating depression during the survival period.
authors: Department of Epidemiology, Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. creyes@mdanderson.org
authors: Cielito C
authors: CC
authors: Reyes-Gibby
authors: Karen O
authors: KO
authors: Anderson
authors: Phuong Kanh
authors: PK
authors: Morrow
authors: Sanjay
authors: S
authors: Shete
authors: Sohela
authors: S
authors: Hassan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011793:Queensland; D012424:Rural Population; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data