Psychological distress in lung cancer survivors at least 1 year after diagnosis—Results of a German multicenter cross‐sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Objective Despite the high incidence of lung cancer, little is known about distress in lung cancer survivors and patients who have survived diagnose for at least 1 year. We investigated distress prevalence and associated factors. Methods We performed a multicenter ( n = 6 hospitals) cross‐sectional study. Data were collected using medical records, questionnaires, and a telephone interview. Distress was measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ‐4). Odds ratios (OR) for factors potentially associated with distress were calculated using multivariable logistic regression. Results We included 561 complete case participants with a mean time since diagnosis of 4.4 years. Nineteen percent of them reported depression and 19% anxiety; 26% had 1 or both. Woman had nearly 2‐times the odds of being distressed than men (OR 1.92). Participants with UICC stage II or III at diagnosis had lower odds of being distress compared with stage I (ORs 0.41, 0.44). Participants in current treatment were less likely to be anxious or depressed than those off treatment (OR 0.32). Those with self‐reported progressing disease had 3‐times the odds of distress than people in complete remission (OR 3.00). Time since diagnosis, pain, dyspnea, lung cancer stigma as well as decreased physical functioning were related to increased distress (ORs per unit increase 0.90, 1.02, 1.03, 1.05, and 0.9, respectively). Conclusions With a quarter of patients affected, psychological distress is a common problem in this population. Being off treatment does not imply less distress. People with poor physical functioning and pain are especially affected. Treating these symptoms is therefore very important.