To assess the independent association of depression and anxiety with overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) in patients with hematologic malignancies.
Key Findings:
Anxiety and depression are prevalent in patients with hematologic malignancies, with rates ranging from 20% to 30%.
Patients with hematologic malignancies have a 6.7-fold increased risk of developing depression compared to the general population.
Depression is associated with worse overall survival and event-free survival in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Anxiety has been linked to poorer overall survival, although findings are less consistent.
Interpretation:
The findings suggest that anxiety and depression negatively impact survival outcomes in patients with hematologic malignancies, highlighting the need for psychological assessment and intervention in this population.
Limitations:
Variability in the assessment tools and criteria for diagnosing depression and anxiety across studies.
Potential publication bias affecting the pooled estimates of the meta-analysis.
Inclusion of studies with different methodologies may introduce heterogeneity.
Conclusion:
The systematic review underscores the importance of addressing mental health issues in patients with hematologic malignancies to potentially improve treatment outcomes and survival.
