High Prevalence of Psychological Symptoms, Sexual Dysfunction, and Prolonged Medical Leave Two Years After Acute...

With the purpose of identifying unmet needs of patients with acute leukemia, survivors were identified from the Swedish National Acute Leukemia registries.

At six months and at two years from diagnosis, patients were requested by mail to report outcome with focus on depression, sick leave, and sexual dysfunction.

Of 910 patients alive at 6 months, 474 (52%) participated, and of 331 alive at two years, 250 (76%) participated. At two years, the majority ≤65 years, 52%, had returned to work >30 h/week, and 40% were still on medical leave. Economic hardship was common, especially in the latter group. Impaired sexual function, impact on sexual desire, as well as anxiety about infections, were frequently reported. Depression with a PHQ-8 score ≥10 was more prevalent in patients ≤65 years than in older patients. In younger patients, a PHQ-8 score ≥10 was associated with sexual dysfunction, economic hardship, single living, and anxiety of infections, whereas in patients >65 years, single living and economic hardship remained significant. No impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on depression was found.

The use of depression screening instruments and awareness of sexual dysfunction could be of importance in the routine care of acute leukemia patients two years after diagnosis.

The authors have confirmed clinical trial registration is not needed for this submission.