Impact of mental health problems on case fatality in male cancer patients

Background:

Although mortality rates are elevated in psychiatric patients relative to their healthy counterparts, little is known about the impact of mental health on survival in people with cancer.

Methods and results:

Among 16 498 Swedish men with cancer, survival was worse in those with a history of psychiatric hospital admissions: multiply-adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) comparing cancer mortality in men with and without psychiatric admissions: 1.59 (1.39, 1.83).

Conclusion:

Survival in cancer patients is worse among those with a history of psychiatric disease. The mechanisms underlying this association should be further explored.