Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40122931›Full record

ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2025

The relationship between frailty and depression in Chinese elderly prostate cancer patients following radical surgery: the mediating effect of sleep disturbances.

Wenguang Liang, Xiaoping Chen, Cuicui Zeng, Huiting Zhang, Huiying Qin, Mengxiao Jiang

Abstract read
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Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Prevalence of preoperative multidimensional frailty and associated factors in middle-aged and older patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer: a cross-sectional study.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Wenguang Liang *School of Nursing, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Xiaoping Chen *Urology Department, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, People's Republic of China.
Cuicui Zeng *Urology Department, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, People's Republic of China.
Huiting ZhangNursing Department, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, People's Republic of China. zhanght@sysucc.org.cn.
Huiying QinNursing Department, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, People's Republic of China. qinhy@sysucc.org.cn.
Mengxiao JiangUrology Department, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, People's Republic of China. jiangmx@sysucc.org.cn.

Funding

Guangdong Medical Research Fund A2024021Guangdong Nurses Association Research Project gdshsxh2024qn31
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveDepression is an important factor affecting long-term outcomes in prostate cancer patients. Frailty and sleep quality are associated with depressive symptoms, but the pathways through which frailty and sleep quality affect depression remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between frailty and depression in older Chinese patients after radical prostate cancer surgery and to explore whether sleep disturbances mediate the effect of frailty on depression.

methodsA cross-sectional study was conducted with 277 elderly prostate cancer patients who underwent radical prostatectomy at a tertiary oncology center in Southern China (January 2022-March 2024). Inclusion criteria required ≥ 3 months postoperative recovery. Standardized instruments were administered: FRAIL Scale for frailty assessment, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for sleep evaluation, and PHQ-9 for depression screening, supplemented by demographic questionnaires.

resultsClinically relevant depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥ 5) were identified in 18.4% (n = 51). Depression scores showed positive correlations with frailty (r = 0.521, p < 0.01) and negative correlations with sleep quality (r = -0.521, p < 0.01). Mediation analysis revealed frailty directly predicted depression (β = 0.349, p < 0.001) and indirectly through sleep impairment (β = 0.119, p < 0.001), with the indirect pathway accounting for 25.43% of the total effect (95% CI:0.059-0.191).

conclusionElderly prostate cancer survivors exhibit heightened post-prostatectomy depression risks. Frailty acts as a dual-pathway predictor-directly exacerbating depressive symptoms and indirectly via sleep deterioration. These findings advocate for multidimensional interventions targeting frailty management and sleep optimization to improve mental health outcomes in this vulnerable cohort.

Indexed as

DepressionFrailtyProstatectomyProstatic NeoplasmsSleep Wake DisordersAgedAged, 80 and overChinaCross-Sectional StudiesEast Asian PeopleHumansMaleSleep QualityDepressionElderlyFrailtyProstate cancerSleep quality

Identifiers

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.