Faculty, Staff and Student Publications
Publication Date
5-8-2024
Journal
Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A diagnosis of prostate cancer (PC) may cause psychosocial distress not only in a man but also in his intimate partner. However, long-term risks of depression, anxiety, or suicide in partners of men with PC are largely unknown.
METHODS: A national cohort study was conducted of 121 530 partners of men diagnosed with PC during 1998-2017 and 1 093 304 population-based controls in Sweden. Major depression, anxiety disorder, and suicide death were ascertained through 2018. Cox regression was used to compute hazard ratios (HRs) while adjusting for sociodemographic factors.
RESULTS: Partners of men with high-risk PC had increased risks of major depression (adjusted HR = 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.30 to 1.39) and anxiety disorder (adjusted HR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.20 to 1.30), which remained elevated 10 or more years later. Suicide death was increased in partners of men with distant metastases (adjusted HR = 2.38, 95% CI = 1.08 to 5.22) but not other high-risk PC (adjusted HR =1.14, 95% CI = 0.70 to 1.88). Among partners of men with high-risk PC, risks of major depression and anxiety disorder were highest among those 80 years of age or older (adjusted HR = 1.73; 95% CI = 1.53 to 1.96; adjusted HR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.47 to 1.96, respectively), whereas suicide death was highest among those younger than 60 years of age (adjusted HR = 7.55, 95% CI = 2.20 to 25.89). In contrast, partners of men with low- or intermediate-risk PC had modestly or no increased risks of these outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS: In this large cohort, partners of men with high-risk PC had increased risks of major depression and anxiety disorder, which persisted for 10 or more years. Suicide death was increased 2-fold in partners of men with distant metastases. Partners as well as men with PC need psychosocial support and close follow-up for psychosocial distress.
Keywords
Humans, Male, Prostatic Neoplasms, Suicide, Middle Aged, Aged, Sweden, Cohort Studies, Risk Factors, Anxiety, Depression, Female, Sexual Partners, Adult, Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorder, Major, Aged, 80 and over
DOI
10.1093/jnci/djad257
PMID
38060258
PMCID
PMC11077310
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
12-7-2023
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Published Open-Access
yes
Included in
Diseases Commons, Mental and Social Health Commons, Oncology Commons, Public Health Commons, Urology Commons
