Abstract
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).
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank all the patients who participated in this study.
The study was funded by Capital Health Research and Development of Special (No. 2011-4001-03), Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission (No. Z111107058811019), Peking Union Medical College New Star (2011, for J.L.) and the National Public Health Grand Research Foundation (No. 201202017).
Potential conflict of interest:
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