Impact of Pre-Diagnosed Depressive Symptoms on Treatment Choice, Delay in Initiating Treatment, and Mortality Among Women Aged ≥65 Years with Breast Cancer
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15511651 |
|---|---|
| Authors | David Gbogbo (Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, corresponding author), Rima Tawk (0000-0001-7256-118X, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University), Askal Ayalew Ali (0000-0002-0535-6300, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University), Carlos A Reyes-Ortiz (0000-0001-7983-7791, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University), Carlos Reyes-Ortiz (Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University), Gebre-Egziabher Kiros (Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 361-361 |
| Publication date | 2026-03-12 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601 |
| Publisher | Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3390/ijerph23030361 |
| PMID | 41899738 |
| OpenAlex | W7135079972 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 29 |
Studies that have sought to describe and account for pre-diagnosed depressive symptoms on BC treatment choice, delay in initiating treatment, and mortality have been inconsistent. The purpose of the study is to examine the association between pre-diagnosed depressive symptoms and their impact on breast cancer (BC) treatment, treatment delays, and mortality. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (SEER-MHOS) dataset among women aged 65 years and older diagnosed with BC. Among 3840 eligible patients, 28.1% had pre-diagnosed depressive symptoms. Patients with pre-diagnosed depressive symptoms who were diagnosed with early-stage BC were significantly more likely (OR = 1.52; 95% CI: 1.26-1.84) to undergo mastectomy or receive breast-conserving surgery (BCS) alone rather than BCS plus radiation therapy (RT) compared to patients who were not pre-diagnosed with depressive symptoms. Among patients with advanced-stage BC, pre-diagnosed depressive symptoms were not significantly associated with treatment type. Among Hispanic patients, pre-diagnosed depressive symptoms were associated with treatment delays. Overall, patients with pre-diagnosed depressive symptoms had a 16% increased adjusted risk of BC-related mortality compared to those who were not pre-diagnosed with depressive symptoms, and those with advanced-stage cancer had an 18% higher adjusted risk of death than early-stage BC. Conclusions: Overlooking depressive symptoms management prior to a breast cancer diagnosis may result in poorer survival outcomes. Early detection and consistent management of depression are critical for improving patient survival
Breast cancer · Cancer · Cohort study · Depression (economics · Depressive symptoms · Retrospective cohort study · Cancer survivorship and care · Cancer, Stress, Anesthesia, and Immune Response · Global Cancer Incidence and Screening
| Highly cited | No |
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