Association between Quality of Life with Depressive Symptoms, Anxiety, Stress, and Emotional Distress in Peruvian Cancer Patients: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. In Peru, cancer represented 20% of deaths nationwide between 1986 and 2015, where the types of cancer with the highest incidence include prostate, breast, and stomach cancer. Cancer diagnosis is a complex communicative process that is associated with the idea of ​​death and suffering, especially those in advanced stages. Regarding the psychological factor, cancer is associated with an increase in depressive symptoms, anxiety, and stress. These represent an obstacle to recovery from the disease and can affect the quality of life of cancer patients. This study aims to determine the association between quality of life and depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, and emotional distress in Peruvian cancer patients. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted on 500 literate National Institute of Neoplastic Diseases cancer patients over 18 years of age. Additionally, descriptive statistical analyses and Poisson association measures of mental health and quality of life factors were performed. Results A prevalence of anxious symptoms (27.5%), depressive symptoms (20.4%), symptoms of moderate-severe stress (83.2%), and emotional discomfort (57.4%) has been identified. Regarding the Poisson regression model, cancer patients with 12 or more years of education were less likely to have emotional distress symptoms. Cancer patients with a low or average mental quality of life are twice as likely to present signs of moderate or severe stress. Notably, neither the type of cancer or the clinical stage presented significant values ​​for any of the mental health problems, mental quality of life, and physical quality of life. The comorbidity sub-analysis has identified that as the number of comorbid mental health problems increases, the probability of having a low mental quality of life and physical quality of life increases. Conclusions Emotional distress and stress are factors associated with the quality of life of cancer patients. Other covariates such as high educational level are factors related to mental health problems. Likewise, the results directly affect the development of public policies and effective health strategies in this type of population.