Abstract 71P
Background
Psychological factors among lung cancer patients have been shown to be constantly associated with poor quality of life (QOL). Anxiety and depression are two common psychological symptoms reported among lung cancer. Hence, we conducted the study with the aim to define the predictors that affect depression and anxiety among the patients with lung cancer attending the palliative care department.
Methods
A prospective observational study was conducted on lung cancer patients. The study duration was for one and a half years [January 2020 to June 2021]. The study was conducted in the department of palliative care of Kolhapur cancer center. We have included 63 patients with histologically confirmed lung cancer. All the cases whose diagnosis was uncertain, who were on treatment for psychiatric disorders, and whose performance status was poor were excluded from the study. The following have been employed in the study: hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) for assessment of anxiety and depression; Edmonton symptom scale (ESAS-r) for assessment of various symptoms of the patients. History of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, and associated co-morbidities were noted down. Logistic regression analysis using Wald’s method was used to find the predictors for depression and anxiety.
Results
The most important predictors for anxiety were the presence of breathlessness [p<0.001], hypertension [p=0.014], histological type of small cell carcinoma [p=0.045], and those patients who received radiotherapy [p=0.003]. Similarly, the most important predictors for depression were presence of fatigue [p=0.044], breathlessness [p=0.010] and those patients who received radiotherapy [p=0.046].
Conclusions
Breathlessness, history of hypertension, small cell carcinoma, and those patients who received radiotherapy were important factors that affect the symptom of anxiety. Fatigue, breathlessness, and the patients who received radiotherapy were the important factors that affect the symptom of depression. Efforts should be made to alleviate these symptoms including providing access to and integrating supportive/palliative care teams into routine practice.
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.