Population-based cohort study of comorbid depression in patients with head and neck cancer compared with patients with other cancers

Depression is more prevalent among individuals with cancer than in the general population and is correlated with increased mortality in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) in particular. A population-based retrospective cohort study in the USA compared prevalence of depression among HNC patients compared with patients with other cancers. The study used data on patients aged 18 years or older with cancer who participated in the 2019 National Health Interview Survey and had completed the Personal Health Questionnaire-8. In this study of a weighted national sample of 23.4 million patients with cancer, including 377,080 with HNC, screened prevalence of depression was almost 3 times as high in patients with HNC (OR 2.94; 95% CI 1.39-6.22) compared with those with other cancers, although there were only small differences in subjective self-reports of depression or use of anti-depression medication. The authors conclude that self-reporting of depression may result in underreporting and undertreatment of depression in HNC patients.