Cancer Pain, Anxiety, and Depression in Admitted Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Prospective Observational Study.

CONTEXT

Pain is the most common symptom in admitted cancer patients. The association between the severity of cancer pain and distress symptoms such as depression and anxiety is a subject of research.

AIMS

The aim is to study the prevalence of pain, anxiety, and depression in admitted cancer patients and determine the association between pain and anxiety and depression at a tertiary cancer care institute.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

This was prospective observational study.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

We enrolled 393 cancer inpatients prospectively after written informed consent. Their disease details, presence, severity, and character of pain were recorded. Numerical Pain Scale was used for pain scores, self-reporting Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale for anxiety and depression.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Normal data were analyzed with parametric, nonnormal with nonparametric methods, and categorical with the Chi-square test.

RESULTS

The prevalence of moderate-to-severe pain was 41.5%, anxiety 20.3%, and depression 24.8%. Proportion of patients with anxiety and depression was 9.2% and 17.7% in patients with no pain; about 32.8% and 36.7% with severe pain, respectively ( < 0.000). In patients with no depression 6% had anxiety; with depression 44.9% had anxiety ( < 0.000). Odd's ratio to have anxiety and depression was 4.44 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.0318-9.7024) and 2.92 (95% CI 1.5739-5.4186), respectively, in patients with pain as compared to no pain ( < 0.00). There was a positive correlation between pain, anxiety, and depression scores.

CONCLUSIONS

There is strong association between the presence and severity of pain and distress symptoms such as anxiety and depression in admitted cancer patients.