Investigation and correlation analysis of financial toxicity and risk of suicide in the patients with head and neck cancer in China

Abstract Background To understand the current state of financial toxicity and suicide risk in head and neck cancer patients,to investigate the correlation between the level of financial toxicity and suicide risk in head and neck cancer patients,and to provide a basis for reducing the level of financial toxicity and the risk of suicide in head and neck cancer patients. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted,from March 1 to July 31,2022,150 head and neck cancer patients were selected from Oncology Department of East Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University by convenient sampling method.The survey was carried out by means of the general questionnaire,Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity based on the Patient-Report Outcome Measures(COST-PROM),Cancer Suicide Risk Scale(CSRS),and then analysis the datum. Results The score of COST-FROM of 150 head and neck cancer patients was (18.00±6.12) points,and the score of CSRS of head and neck cancer patients was (36.31±8.51) points.The total score of economic toxicity was significantly negatively correlated with the total score of suicide risk and its dimensions (r values were − 0.446 to 0.235,all P<0.05).The total score of suicide risk was negatively correlated with the total score of economic toxicity and the scores of each dimension (r values were − 0.446 to -0.251,all P<0.05). Conclusion Patients with head and neck cancer were at higher risk of suicide,and financial toxicity was a significant contributing factor to suicide risk,with higher levels of financial toxicity associated with a higher risk of suicide.Reducing the level of financial toxicity in patients with head and neck cancer has important implications for reducing their risk of suicide.