Prevalence and risk factors for depression in newly diagnosed patients with POEMS syndrome

This prospective study delineated the prevalence and risk factors for clinical depression in patients with POEMS syndrome (polyneuropathy, organomegaly, endocrinopathy, monoclonal protein, skin changes). Using a PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire scale-9, which evaluates the severity of depressive symptoms) score cut-off ≥ 10, the prevalence of pretreatment depression was 38.0%. Based on multivariate logistic regression, higher ONLS (Overall Neuropathy Limitation Scale, which assesses the severity of neuropathy) upper limb scores (hazard ratio [HR] 1.75; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-2.81; p = 0.02) and ascites (HR 4.30; 95% CI 1.03-17.9; p = 0.04) were significant and independent predictors for depression. The incidence of post-treatment depression was 1.53% by the end of follow-up, while no patients received antidepressants. A preliminary logistic regression suggested depression to be a risk factor for early death (within 3 months after diagnosis) (HR 9.77; 95% CI, 1.08-88.9; p = 0.04).