Psychological health status among thyroid cancer patients during the COVID-19 epidemic in China.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the psychological health status and explore the impact of different factors among thyroid cancer patients during the peak period of the COVID-19 epidemic in China.

METHODS

With thyroid cancer patients who had attended Peking Union Medical College Hospital included, we collected their demographic and clinical characteristics, COVID-19-related factors, and outcomes of 4 psychological scales (Insomnia Severity Index [ISI], Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire [GAD-7], Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9], and Impact of Events Scale-Revised [IES-R]) through an online questionnaire and used multiple linear regression to find independent risk factors for each psychological symptom.

RESULTS

A total of 219 patients were included. Insomnia, anxiety, depression, and clinically relevant post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) were reported by 69 (31.5%), 87 (39.7%), 74 (33.8%), and 44 (20.1%) patients, respectively. Based on multiple linear regression, being single/divorced/widowed, having a lower level of education, receiving resources of science lectures during the epidemic, and experiencing disruption of routine treatment or follow-up were associated with poorer psychological health among patients with thyroid cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

High rates of psychological symptoms and potential risk factors were found in thyroid cancer patients during the peak period of COVID-19 in China. Based on these findings, the psychological status of these patients should be a focus, and the psychological support systems need to be strengthened for the prevention of psychological crises during the epidemic.