• Jocelyn C Que, Teresa T Sy Ortin, Karen O Anderson, Consuelo B Gonzalez-Suarez, Thomas W Feeley, and Cielito C Reyes-Gibby.
• 1 Palliative Care, Benavides Cancer Institute, University of Santo Tomas Hospital , Manila, Philippines .
• J Palliat Med. 2013 Oct 1; 16 (10): 128012841280-4.

BackgroundThe World Health Organization recognizes depression as one of the most burdensome diseases in the world. Among cancer patients, depression is significantly associated with shorter survival, independent of the influence of biomedical prognostic factors. Although cancer is the third leading cause of morbidity and mortality among Filipinos, little is known about depressive symptoms and their influence on health-related quality of life in this population. We assessed the prevalence of, and factors associated with, depressive symptoms and their influence on health-related quality of life in Filipino patients with cancer.MethodsThe Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-8 and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 were administered to all inpatients and outpatients, age >=18 years presenting for cancer treatment.ResultsTwenty-two percent (n=53/247) were categorized as depressed, using a PHQ-8 cutoff of ≥10. Depressed patients scored lower on cognitive, emotional, role, physical, and social functioning than those who scored PHQ<10 (all P<0.001). Depression varied by disease status, performance status and marital status (all P<0.001). However, only performance status (OR [odds ratio]=2.20; 95% CI=1.60, 3.00) and disease status (OR=2.4; 95% CI=1.13, 5.22) were significantly associated with depression in the multivariable model.ConclusionsDepression is prevalent in Filipino cancer patients. The findings provide empirical support for the development of mental health services in this understudied population. This study, the first to assess the prevalence of and factors associated with depression in Filipino cancer patients, needs further validation.

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