Gender Differences in Psychological Distress in Patients with Colorectal Cancer and Its Correlates in the Northeast of Iran

Purpose Colorectal cancer has a significant impact on patients’ physical, psychological, and social aspects. This study aimed to examine the gender difference in anxiety and depression and its relationship with some of the characteristics of the disease and demographic in the northeast of Iran. Methods In this cross-sectional study, patients with colorectal cancer aged over 18 years who were admitted to hospitals, without considering the disease stage and type of treatment, were enrolled during 2014–2016. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) Questionnaire was completed via interview. Results A total of 303 survivors of colorectal cancer were included in the current analysis, of whom 55.1% (167) were male. The overall frequency of depression was 44.9%, and it was 38.3% and 32.9% for men and women, respectively. The overall frequency of anxiety was 53.4% (50.3% and 57.4% for men and women, respectively). The results showed that compared to men, women (52%) were more likely to report depression (OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.22–1.04, P = 0.065); in contrast, men (12%) were less likely than women to report anxiety (OR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.38–2.03, P = 0.779), which was less than 12% in men. Among other variables, education and employment were identified as independent and strong predictive variables for depression and anxiety. Conclusions The frequency of anxiety and depression is high among colorectal cancer survivors, especially in women. Therefore, screening for psychological distress is recommended in clinical settings and there is a need to pay attention to women.