Risk of Late-Onset Depression in Long-Term Survivors of Breast, Prostate, and Colorectal Cancer

What sociodemographic and clinical characteristics are associated with late-onset depression in long-term (5-year) survivors of breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer?This cohort study of 53 769 cancer survivors found that Medicare and Medicaid dual eligibility, a greater comorbidity burden at diagnosis, and a prior diagnosis of anxiety were associated with higher risk of depression in all survivor cohorts. The risk of depression among survivors in the high-risk tertile was twice as high compared with the low-risk tertile.This study’s results suggest that these risk factors may be used to proactively inform screening and treatment of depression among cancer survivors.

Corresponding Author: Michaela A. Dinan, PhD, Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College St, PO Box 208034, New Haven, CT 06420 (michaela.dinan@yale.edu).

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