Cancer Incidence Among People With a Prior Hospital Record of Depression in Scotland, 1991–2019: A Cohort Study

ABSTRACT Objective Current evidence on the association between depression and cancer risk is conflicting, with little understanding of how associations vary by time period or sociodemographic factors. We aimed to compare cancer incidence in people with versus without a previous hospital admission re...

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Main Authors: Thulani Ashcroft, Kelly Fleetwood, Christine Campbell, Caroline A. Jackson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-01-01
Series:Cancer Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.70496
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author Thulani Ashcroft
Kelly Fleetwood
Christine Campbell
Caroline A. Jackson
author_facet Thulani Ashcroft
Kelly Fleetwood
Christine Campbell
Caroline A. Jackson
author_sort Thulani Ashcroft
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Objective Current evidence on the association between depression and cancer risk is conflicting, with little understanding of how associations vary by time period or sociodemographic factors. We aimed to compare cancer incidence in people with versus without a previous hospital admission record for depression, by sociodemographic factors and over time. Methods We conducted a cohort study using national linked data in Scotland from 1991 to 2019. We calculated sex‐stratified age standardised incidence rates for all cancers, lung, female breast, colorectal and prostate cancer, and used quasi‐Poisson regression models to obtain sex‐specific estimates of cancer incidence and relative risks of cancer in those with versus without a prior hospital admission record of depression. Results There were 128,654 people with a hospital record of depression with 12,802 incident cancers and 847,656 cancers among those without depression. Age‐standardised cancer incidence rates were higher in both males and females with versus without depression. Depression was associated with a 20%–30% increased risk of all cancers combined, a difference that did not vary by sex, age or deprivation and persisted over three decades. Depression was associated with higher risks of lung (RR 1.79, 95% CI 1.70–1.88) and colorectal cancer (RR 1.12, 95% CI 1.05–1.19), but not breast or prostate cancer. Conclusions We identified an entrenched disparity in cancer incidence by depression status. Further research should identify underlying mechanisms and inform cancer prevention strategies in this vulnerable group. Meanwhile, health care professionals have a key role to play in optimising physical health care for people with depression.
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spelling doaj-art-d0e39d8747c3448392074bd46442b54b2025-01-13T13:22:38ZengWileyCancer Medicine2045-76342025-01-01141n/an/a10.1002/cam4.70496Cancer Incidence Among People With a Prior Hospital Record of Depression in Scotland, 1991–2019: A Cohort StudyThulani Ashcroft0Kelly Fleetwood1Christine Campbell2Caroline A. Jackson3Usher Institute, Usher Building The University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UKUsher Institute, Usher Building The University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UKUsher Institute, Usher Building The University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UKUsher Institute, Usher Building The University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UKABSTRACT Objective Current evidence on the association between depression and cancer risk is conflicting, with little understanding of how associations vary by time period or sociodemographic factors. We aimed to compare cancer incidence in people with versus without a previous hospital admission record for depression, by sociodemographic factors and over time. Methods We conducted a cohort study using national linked data in Scotland from 1991 to 2019. We calculated sex‐stratified age standardised incidence rates for all cancers, lung, female breast, colorectal and prostate cancer, and used quasi‐Poisson regression models to obtain sex‐specific estimates of cancer incidence and relative risks of cancer in those with versus without a prior hospital admission record of depression. Results There were 128,654 people with a hospital record of depression with 12,802 incident cancers and 847,656 cancers among those without depression. Age‐standardised cancer incidence rates were higher in both males and females with versus without depression. Depression was associated with a 20%–30% increased risk of all cancers combined, a difference that did not vary by sex, age or deprivation and persisted over three decades. Depression was associated with higher risks of lung (RR 1.79, 95% CI 1.70–1.88) and colorectal cancer (RR 1.12, 95% CI 1.05–1.19), but not breast or prostate cancer. Conclusions We identified an entrenched disparity in cancer incidence by depression status. Further research should identify underlying mechanisms and inform cancer prevention strategies in this vulnerable group. Meanwhile, health care professionals have a key role to play in optimising physical health care for people with depression.https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.70496cancercohortdepressionincidenceoncology
spellingShingle Thulani Ashcroft
Kelly Fleetwood
Christine Campbell
Caroline A. Jackson
Cancer Incidence Among People With a Prior Hospital Record of Depression in Scotland, 1991–2019: A Cohort Study
Cancer Medicine
cancer
cohort
depression
incidence
oncology
title Cancer Incidence Among People With a Prior Hospital Record of Depression in Scotland, 1991–2019: A Cohort Study
title_full Cancer Incidence Among People With a Prior Hospital Record of Depression in Scotland, 1991–2019: A Cohort Study
title_fullStr Cancer Incidence Among People With a Prior Hospital Record of Depression in Scotland, 1991–2019: A Cohort Study
title_full_unstemmed Cancer Incidence Among People With a Prior Hospital Record of Depression in Scotland, 1991–2019: A Cohort Study
title_short Cancer Incidence Among People With a Prior Hospital Record of Depression in Scotland, 1991–2019: A Cohort Study
title_sort cancer incidence among people with a prior hospital record of depression in scotland 1991 2019 a cohort study
topic cancer
cohort
depression
incidence
oncology
url https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.70496
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AT christinecampbell cancerincidenceamongpeoplewithapriorhospitalrecordofdepressioninscotland19912019acohortstudy
AT carolineajackson cancerincidenceamongpeoplewithapriorhospitalrecordofdepressioninscotland19912019acohortstudy