Risk of depressive disorder among patients with head and neck cancer: A nationwide population-based study
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence and risk of depressive disorder among patients with head and neck cancer. METHODS: We identified 48 548 patients from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in Taiwan who were newly diagnosed with head and neck cancer between 2000 and 2010. Each patient was randomly frequency-matched with an individual without head and neck cancer, based on index year, sex, age, occupation category, urbanization level, monthly income, and comorbidities. The Cox proportional Registry of Catastrophic Illnesses Patient Database regression analysis was performed to estimate the effect of head and neck cancer on the risk of depressive disorder. RESULTS: Patients with head and neck cancer had a significantly higher risk of depressive disorder than the matched cohort (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 3.32; 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.05-3.61), with the highest risk seen in the hypopharynx and oropharynx. CONCLUSION: Patients with head and neck cancer had >3 times the incidence of depressive disorder, relative to the comparison group. Psychological evaluation and support are essential in head and neck cancer survivors.
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The presence of head and neck cancer seemed to be related to an increased risk for depressive disorder.
“The presence of head and neck cancer also seemed to be related to an increased risk for depressive disorder [45].”
From Biological, Psychological, and Social Determinants of Depression: A Review of Recent Literature (2021) · cites this paper as [45]
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- Authors
- Fan, C., Chao, H., Lin, C., Huang, W., Chen, C., Lin, K., Lin, C., & Kao, C.
- Affiliations
- Tri-Service General Hospital (TW)
- Asia University (TW)
- Corresponding author
- Kao, Chia‐Hung
- Venue
- Head & Neck
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2017-09-30
- Volume
- 40
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 312-323
- ISSN
- 1043-3074 (ISSN-L)
- 1097-0347
- OpenAlex
- W2756710983
- Cited by
- 35
- References
- 31
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 4
- FWCI
- 1.45
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Head & Neck (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- China Medical University Hospital
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Otorhinolaryngology › Head and Neck Cancer Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Keywords
- depressive disorders, head and neck cancer, cancer survivors, incidence, risk factors, hypopharyngeal cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, psychological support, comorbidities
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Depressive Disorder, Female, Head and Neck Neoplasms, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Risk, Taiwan, Cohort Studies, Incidence, Databases, Factual
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