Cancer Management and Research (Sep 2023)
Pandemic-Induced Depression Among Older Adults with a History of Cancer During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging
Abstract
Meghan J Bird,1,2 Grace Li,3 Andie MacNeil,1,2 Ying Jiang,4 Margaret de Groh,4 Esme Fuller-Thomson1,2,5,6 1Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; 2Institute for Life Course and Aging, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; 3Department of Sociology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada; 4Applied Research Division, Centre for Surveillance and Applied Research, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada; 5Department of Family and Community Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; 6Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CanadaCorrespondence: Esme Fuller-Thomson, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, 246 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON, M5S 1V4, Canada, Tel +1 416 978-3269, Fax +1 416 978-7072, Email [email protected]: The objectives of this study were to identify the prevalence of, and factors associated with, incident and recurrent depression in a sample of older adults with a history of cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic.Materials and Methods: Data were drawn from four waves of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging Comprehensive Cohort (n=2486 with cancer). The outcome of interest was a positive screen for depression based on the CES-D-10 during the autumn of 2020.Results: Among older adults with cancer and no pre-pandemic history of depression (n=1765), 1 in 8 developed first onset depression during the pandemic. Among respondents with cancer and a history of depression (n=721), 1 in 2 experienced a recurrence of depression. The risk of both incident and recurrent depression was higher among those who were lonely, those with functional limitations, and those who experienced an increase in family conflict during the pandemic. The risk of incident depression only was higher among older women, those who did not engage in church or religious activities, those who experienced a loss of income during the pandemic, and those who became ill or had a loved one become ill or die during the pandemic. The risk of recurrent depression only was higher among those who felt isolated from others and those whose income did not satisfy their basic needs.Conclusion: Health care providers should continue to screen and provide mental health support to their cancer patients and those with a lifetime history of cancer, with consideration for those with the aforementioned vulnerabilities.Keywords: COVID-19, depression, cancer, older adults, CLSA
