# Prevalence of Depression and Its Impact on Quality of Life in Cancer Survivors: An Observational Study From South India

## TL;DR

This study finds that most cancer survivors in South India experience depression, which significantly lowers their quality of life.

## Contribution

The study reports a high prevalence of depression (76%) among cancer survivors and links it to reduced quality of life across multiple domains.

## Key findings

- Depression was observed in 76% of cancer survivors, with 52.3% having mild, 33.3% moderate, and 14.2% severe depression.
- Quality of life scores decreased with depression severity, particularly affecting physical and environmental domains.
- Environmental domain had the highest mean score (77.5), while physical domain scored lowest (55.7).

## Abstract

Background: Advances in cancer therapy have extended survival, shifting focus toward survivorship and quality of life (QoL). Depression is a common but under-recognized issue among cancer survivors, influencing psychological adaptation and well-being.

Aim: To assess the prevalence of depression and its impact on quality of life among cancer survivors beyond one year of diagnosis.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 55 cancer survivors at a tertiary care centre. Depression was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), and QoL was evaluated with the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire (covering physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains).

Results: The mean age of the study participants was 55.7 ± 11.5 years; 15 (27.3%) were male and 40 (72.7%) female. Depression was observed in 42 survivors (76%), of whom 22 (52.3%) had mild depression, 14 (33.3%) had moderate depression, and 6 (14.2%) had severe depression. The mean WHOQOL-BREF scores were 55.7 in the physical domain, 54.6 in the psychological domain, 52.1 in the social domain, and 77.5 in the environmental domain. Quality of life declined progressively with increasing severity of depression, with individuals experiencing severe depression reporting the lowest scores across domains.

Conclusion: Depression is highly prevalent among cancer survivors (76%) and strongly associated with impaired QoL, especially in environmental (Mean score:77.5) and physical domains (Mean score:55.7). Routine psychosocial screening and integrative supportive interventions are essential to optimize survivorship outcomes.