Prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders in pregnant women with malignancy

Objective To examine national‐level prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders among pregnant women with malignancy. Methods This is a pre‐planned secondary analysis of a previous retrospective cohort study using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's National Inpatient Sample. Study population was 14 648 135 deliveries including 10 145 patients with malignancy from 2016 to 2019. A multivariable binary logistic regression model was fitted to assess the association of malignancy and anxiety or depressive disorder. Results Pregnant women with malignancy were 49% more likely to have the diagnosis of either anxiety or depressive disorder compared with those without malignancy (prevalence rate 114 vs. 61 per 1000 cases, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.40–1.58). The increase in the risk associated with malignancy on either anxiety or depressive disorder was more than two‐fold among patients with brain and other nervous system tumors (aOR 2.69, 95% CI 2.01–3.60), bone and joint tumors (aOR 2.32, 95% CI 1.33–4.04), and leukemia (aOR 2.12, 95% CI 1.81–2.48). Conclusions This national‐level analysis suggests that pregnant women with malignancy experience increased rates of psychological distress more often than pregnant women without malignancy. Synopsis This national‐level analysis suggests that pregnant women with malignancy experience increased rates of psychological distress more often than pregnant women without malignancy.