Abstract A108: Perceived negative effects of COVID-19 on mental health based on a history of cancer
Authors: Chen Meng , Abouelella Dina K. , White Melissa C. , Jiang Rong , Babtunde Oluwole A. , Boakye Eric Adjei , Watts Tammara L. , Osazuwa-Peters Nosayaba 
Published: December 2023

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic had profound effects on cancer care and healthcare in general, including access and delays in receiving care. However, while the perceived negative effects of COVID-19 on mental health have been widely acknowledged, it remains unclear whether individuals with a history of cancer are at a higher risk of experiencing mental health issues as a result of the pandemic. Methods: We used the 2021 cross-sectional epidemiological data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) in the United States. Our outcome of interest was based on a single-item question in the 2021 data that elicited perception of the COVID-19 pandemic's negative effect on emotional or mental health. We examined the association between a history of cancer and our outcome of interest, using a multivariable logistic regression to estimate the odds of perceiving negative mental health effect due to COVID-19 based on a history of cancer. A secondary analysis examined demographic factors associated with perceived negative mental health effect of COVID-19 among individuals with a history of cancer. Results: Our analysis included a total of 15,959 individuals aged ≥18 years, 12.7% of which had a history of cancer (n = 2,030). After adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, and sex, compared to individuals without a history of cancer, those with a history of cancer had higher odds of perceived negative mental health due to the pandemic (aOR = 1.23; 95% CI 1.01, 1.49). Within the subgroup of individuals with a history of cancer, compared to individuals who were ≥65 years, individuals aged 35 – 49 had higher odds of perceived negative mental health due to COVID-19 (aOR = 1.73; 95% CI = 1.04, 2.88). Additionally, individuals who were non-Hispanic Others (Asians, Native American Indian/Alaskan Natives, Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islanders, and mixed races) had higher odds of perceived negative mental health due to COVID-19, when compared to non-Hispanic white individuals (aOR = 2.75; 95% CI = 1.29 - 5.87). Conclusion: Individuals with a history of cancer may have perceived being more negatively impacted mentally by the COVID-19 pandemic compared to those without a history of cancer, especially certain age groups and minoritized populations.  As cancer care emerges into a post-COVID era, it is imperative to prioritize mental health to ensure a better quality of life during cancer survivorship.

Citation Format: Meng Chen, Dina K. Abouelella, Melissa C. White, Rong Jiang, Oluwole A. Babtunde, Eric Adjei Boakye, Tammara L. Watts, Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters. Perceived negative effects of COVID-19 on mental health based on a history of cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A108.