Effect of hCG follow-up on anxiety, depression, and quality of life in women with gestational trophoblastic disease

hCG and quality of life in GTD

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effect of normalization of the hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin, on anxiety, symptoms of depression, and quality of life in patients with gestational trophoblastic disease, and to identify risk factors associated with these outcomes. Methods: This longitudinal study included 51 women under postmolar follow-up or during treatment for gestational trophoblastic neoplasia between 2017 and 2019 in two Brazilian trophoblastic disease centers. Results: The normalization of human chorionic gonadotropin led to a significant reduction in the depression scores and increased physical health domain scores in both study groups, namely the hydatidiform mole and gestational trophoblastic neoplasia groups. Having children and the desire for children were associated with lower scores for depression and anxiety, and higher scores for the psychological health domain of quality of life. Perceiving health as “very poor” was associated with higher scores for depression and anxiety, and lower scores for quality of life with respect to physical health, psychological health, and social relationship domains. Conclusion: Disease remission was associated with reduced depression symptoms and better quality of life in the physical health domain. While having a negative perception of health was associated with higher anxiety and depression scores and poor quality of life, having children and the desire for children improved anxiety and depression symptoms and quality of life in the psychological health domain.