Adverse mental health outcomes in a population-based cohort of survivors of childhood cancer
Menée au Canada à partir de données portant sur 4 117 patients ayant survécu 5 ans à un cancer diagnostiqué avant l'âge de 18 ans et traité entre 1987 et 2008, cette étude analyse l'utilisation de services de santé pour des troubles psychiques (hospitalisation, prise en charge par les services d'urgence, consultation de psychiatres...) et évalue les facteurs associés à la survenue d'événements indésirables psychiques sévères (suicide, hospitalisations...)
BACKGROUND: The elevated risk for physical late effects in childhood cancer survivors (CCS) is well documented, but their risk for mental health problems is less well described. METHODS: The authors assembled a cohort of all 5-year CCS who were diagnosed before age 18 years and treated in an Ontario pediatric cancer center between 1987 and 2008. Patients were matched to population controls and linked to health administration databases. The authors calculated rates of mental health care visits (family physician, psychiatrist, emergency department, hospitalization) and the risk for a severe mental health event (emergency department, hospitalization, suicide). Outcomes were compared using recurrent event and survival analyses. RESULTS: Compared with 20,269 controls, 4117 CCS had a higher rate of mental health visits (adjusted relative rate [RR], 1.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-1.52). Higher rates were associated with female gender (RR, 1.39; CI, 1.10-1.75; P = .006) and being diagnosed at ages 15 to 17.9 years (compared with ages 0-4 years: RR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.17-2.80; P = .008). Cancer type, treatment intensity, and treatments targeting the central nervous system were not significant predictors. Survivors were at increased risk for a severe event compared with controls (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.00-1.28; P = .045). CCS who were diagnosed with cancer at age 4 years or younger were at greatest risk: 16.3% (95% CI, 13.2%-19.8%) had experienced a severe event by age 28 years. CONCLUSIONS: CCS experienced higher rates of mental health visits and a greater risk for a severe event than the general population. Survivors of adolescent cancer have a higher rate of mental health visits overall, whereas survivors of cancer before age 4 years have a markedly elevated risk of severe events. Cancer 2018. © 2018 American Cancer Society.
Cancer 2018