Effect of Antiepileptic Drugs in Glioma Patients on Self-reported Depression, Anxiety, and Cognitive Complaints
Abstract IntroductionAEDs have been associated with depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment, all frequent complications of glioma and its subsequent treatment, with considerable morbidity and an adverse effect on health-related quality of life. This study aimed to determine the independent association between AED use and self-reported depression, anxiety, and subjective cognitive impairment in glioma patients. Methods In this multicenter cross-sectional study depression and anxiety were measured with the HADS and subjective cognitive impairment was measured with the MOS-CFS. Univariable logistic regression analyses were performed on all possible confounding predictor variables, and if p-value<0.1, possible confounders were included in the multivariable analyses to identify whether use of AEDs was independently related to depression, anxiety, and/or subjective cognitive impairment.ResultsA total of 272 patients were included. Prevalence of depression differed significantly between patients not using (10%) and using AEDs (21%, unadjusted Odds Ratio [uOR]=2.29 [95%CI=1.05-4.97], p=0.037), but after correction for confounders the statistical significant difference was no longer apparent (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR]=1.94 [95%CI=0.83-4.50], p=0.125). Prevalences of anxiety (aOR=1.17 [95%CI=0.59-2.29], p=0.659) and subjective cognitive impairment (aOR=0.83 [95%CI=0.34-2.04], p=0.684) did not differ significantly before or after adjustment of confounders between patients not using (19% and 16%, respectively) and using AEDs (26% and 21%, respectively).ConclusionsOur results indicate AED use was not independently associated with concurrent depression, anxiety, or subjective cognitive impairment in glioma patients. Alternative factors seem to have a greater contribution to the risk of having these neuropsychiatric symptoms in glioma patients.