Health‐related quality of life and survival outcomes for patients with major depressive disorder and anxiety: A longitudinal study in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder (MDD) and anxiety were recognized in treating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This longitudinal study identified risk factors for MDD and anxiety and established associations with patients' quality of life (QoL) and survival outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used PHQ‐9 and GAD‐7 questionnaires to diagnose MDD and anxiety in PDAC patients between October 2021 and March 2022 at a Chinese center. Characteristics and clinical data were analyzed for risk factors and EORTC QLQ‐C30 questionnaire was administered for QoL before the first chemotherapy. Furthermore, chemotherapy compliance and 1‐year survival were compared during follow‐up. RESULTS: MDD and anxiety occurred in 51.8% and 44.7% of 114 patients over the half‐year period. Employment at work (odds ratio [OR]: 5.514, p = 0.001; OR: 3.420, p = 0.011) was an independent risk factor, while radical surgery (OR: 0.342, p = 0.034; OR: 0.238, p = 0.004) was a protective factor. Several aspects of decreased QoL were discovered after their onsets. Higher incidences of physical disorders (p = 0.004; p < 0.001), mental disorders (p = 0.001; p < 0.001), anti‐therapy emotions (p = 0.002; 0.001), and chemotherapy suspensions (p = 0.001; p = 0.043) were observed. Furthermore, the 1‐year mortalities for all patients and those receiving radical surgeries were correlated with MDD (p = 0.007; 0.036) and anxiety (p = 0.010; 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: MDD and anxiety are common in PDAC patients and correlated with poor QoL and survivals. Therefore, appropriate mental management is required in future.