BACKGROUND:

Patients with depression are suggestive of having a tendency toward a marginally significant association with the subsequent cancer risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible relationship between depression and cancer risk in Taiwan.

METHODS:

We used the data of the National Health Insurance system of Taiwan to assess this issue. The Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was conducted to estimate the effects of depression on the cancer risk.

RESULTS:

In patients with depression, there was no significant change in the risk of developing overall cancer or for the site-specific cancer and all showed the same direction (positive) except for colorectal cancer, which had a negative direction.

CONCLUSIONS:

This population-based study did not find Taiwanese patients with depression to have a higher risk to develop overall cancer or site-specific cancer.

IMPACT:

Depression does not increase cancer risk.