J Korean Dysphagia Soc.  2024 Jan;14(1):41-53. 10.34160/jkds.23.022.

Depression and Dysphagia-Specific Quality of Life in Patients Who Have Undergone Esophageal Cancer Surgery

• Jeong JA
• Park YH

• KMID: 2559395
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.34160/jkds.23.022

Abstract

Objective
Depression is commonly seen in patients who have undergone surgery for esophageal cancer. The purpose of this study was to describe the degree of depression and dysphagia-specific quality of life (QoL) in patients who underwent surgery for esophageal cancer, to identify the relationship between depression and dysphagia-specific QoL and to find the factors affecting dysphagia-specific QoL.
Methods
This study is a descriptive correlation study. The participants were 132 patients who had undergone esophageal cancer surgery at a university hospital in Seoul. Data were collected through a questionnaire from September 2022 to May 2023. The Korean version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Revised (K-CESDR) and Dysphagia-specific QoL questionnaire were used. Data were analyzed using the t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression.
Results
Forty-six (34.8%) participants showed a risk of depression and the mean dysphagia-specific QoL score was 65.83 (±15.83). There was a significant correlation between depression and the dysphagia-specific QoL. Factors that significantly affect the dysphagia-specific QoL were found to be marital status (β=−.16, P=.037), number of complications and level of discomfort (β=−.17, P=.036), depression (β=−.35, P＜.001), time elapsed post-surgery, and elapsed period over 3 years or post operative elapsed period (over 3 years) (β=.29, P＜.001). Among these factors, depression (β=−.35, P＜.001) had the maximum influence on dysphagia-specific QoL.
Conclusion
Depression has a significant effect on the dysphagia-specific QoL of patients who underwent surgery for esophageal cancer. Therefore, it is necessary to develop proper interventions to reduce depression, complications, and the resultant discomfort associated with the surgery. We suggest developing more valid tools for measuring the dysphagia-specific QoL for cancer surgery patients.

Keyword

Deglutition disorders; Depression; Esophageal neoplasms; Quality of life