Factors associated with depression among people with cancer: Systematic umbrella review

Depression in cancer patients is a common condition that poses significant challenges for prognosis, treatment adherence, and quality of life. Its onset reflects the interplay of diverse biological, psychological, and social factors, which has been the focus of numerous studies.

We identified both systematic and non-systematic reviews examining cross-sectional or prospective studies reporting associations between DAFs and depression. We extracted data relative to DAFs, as well as the direction and statistical significance of the reported association. Consistency of findings was assessed by estimating the proportion of concordant studies (PCS) for each DAF. Methodological quality and risk of bias were assessed using a standardized tool.

We identified 73 reviews (26 systematic and/or meta-analyses, 47 narrative) encompassing 514 unique primary studies, reporting the associations between depression and 198 distinct DAFs. DAFs were grouped into six domains (sociodemographic, cancer-related, somatic, psychological, biological-genetic, and other). The strongest associations (PCS ≥ 75% and ≥5 studies) were observed for sociodemographic factors (e.g., high social support, being unmarried), inflammatory markers (IL-6, TNF-α, CRP), psychological factors (e.g., history of depression, distress, anxiety), and somatic factors (e.g., fatigue, low functional status, malnutrition). When restricting analyses to prospective studies, consistent associations emerged for cancer-related physical symptoms and time dedicated to patient communication.

Depression in cancer is multifactorial, with physical and psychosocial factors likely iteracting dynamically. Prospective studies are still greatly needed. Further research on risk and protective factors may facilitate risk stratification, early diagnosis and patient management.