The Impact of Depression and Anxiety on Adult Cancer Patients’ Health-Related Quality of Life

Background: Cancer patients are at high risk for mental illness and, in turn, poorer health-related quality of life. This study used nationally representative United States (US) data to examine nuances of the impact of depression and/or anxiety on HRQoL in different cancer groups (e.g., cancer only, cancer and depression, cancer and anxiety, cancer and both conditions). Methods: Adult patients aged 18 years and older with a cancer diagnosis were identified from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data for 2012–2016. HRQoL was measured using the SF-12 Physical and Mental Component Summary (PCS & MCS) scores. Multivariate linear regressions were used, controlling for a multitude of factors. Results: Around 12% of the 1712 identified patients with cancer had depression, 13% had anxiety, and 8.4% had both depression and anxiety. Patients with comorbid depression and anxiety had the lowest mean scores of both PCS and MCS compared to patients in other groups. In addition, cancer patients with either depression and/or anxiety were more likely to have lower MCS scores compared to those with cancer only (depression: β = −6.554; anxiety: β = −3.916; both conditions: β = −11.759, p < 0.001). Interestingly, patients with comorbid depression and anxiety were more likely to have higher PCS scores compared to those with cancer only. Conclusions: The psychological burden of cancer is immense, with a substantial impact on patients’ HRQoL. Routine screening for depression and anxiety, especially for women and those with low poverty status and comorbidities, should be conducted by healthcare providers to identify those with high odds of having a lower HRQoL. Additionally, early psychiatric interventions, such as psychotherapy and prescription drugs, may positively impact patients’ mental well-being and HRQoL.