Factors Associated With Psychological Distress Among Thyroid Cancer Patients

Sunday, September 29, 2024

3:06 PM – 3:12 PM EDT

Location: MBCC, 209

Disclosure(s):

Eric X. Wei, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Andrey Finegersh, MD, PhD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Lisa A. Orloff, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Julia E. Noel, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: Cancer diagnosis can cause significant psychological distress (PD), which is independently associated with increased mortality and worse health. Thyroid cancer patients (TCPs) are often younger and have protracted courses compared to other cancer patients (CPs). We sought to assess the prevalence of PD among TCPs relative to other CPs and identify clinical, demographic, and socioeconomic factors associated with PD.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of the 2016-2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) database was performed. Adults with thyroid, oral cavity, breast, prostate, lung, colorectal, skin, bladder, lymphatic, renal, hematogenous, and pancreatic cancer were included. The primary outcome variable was moderate to severe psychological distress (MSPD), defined as respondent score ≥5 on the validated K6 psychological distress scale. Chi-square tests were used to assess differences in MSPD by cancer type. Weighted multivariable logistic regression was used to elucidate factors associated with MSPD among TCPs.

Results: Most TCPs (n = 265) were white (80.0%), female (82.6%), and on average 44.5 years old (SD = 15). 28.4% reported MSPD. On weighted analysis, TCPs were more likely to have MSPD than prostate (14.9%, p < 0.001), bladder (16.4%, p = 0.011), and non-melanoma skin cancer (16.3%, p < 0.001) patients but less likely than pancreatic cancer (30.0%, p = 0.030) patients. On weighted regression, TCPs who were married (OR = 0.35, 95% CI = [0.13-0.94]), older at diagnosis (OR = 0.93, 95% CI = [0.87-0.99]), and had seen a general physician (GP) in the past year (OR = 0.11, 95% CI = [0.02-0.60]) were less likely to have MSPD. Being female (OR = 14.96, 95% CI = [2.70-82.96]), increased number of medical comorbidities (OR = 1.54, 95% CI = [1.02-2.32]), and functional limitations (OR = 4.77, 95% CI = [1.33-17.02]) were associated with increased likelihood of MSPD.

Conclusions: Nearly thirty percent of TCPs have MSPD, especially those who are younger and do not regularly see a GP. Further work is needed to improve screening and identify the most at-risk patients to improve prevention and develop meaningful interventions.

Presenting Author(s)

ML

Matthew E. Lin, MD

Resident Physician
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Los Angeles, California, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

Co-Author(s)

EW

Eric X. Wei, MD

Resident Physician
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine
Stanford, CA, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
AF

Andrey Finegersh, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor, Otolaryngology
Stanford
Palo Alto, CA, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
LO

Lisa A. Orloff, MD

Professor and Director of Endocrine Head & Neck Surgery
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine
STANFORD, CA, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
JN

Julia E. Noel, MD

Clinical Affiliate Assistant Professor
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine
Stanford, California, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Senior Author(s)

MC

Michelle M. Chen, MD, MHS

Assistant Professor
Stanford University
Palo Alto, CA, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.