Background: The population of prostate cancer (PCa) survivors has grown over the recent decades, with many reporting long-term treatment-related physical, emotional, and financial adverse effects resulting in greater psychological distress compared to males without a history of PCa. This study analyzes the prevalence of psychological distress among PCa survivors and its impact on emergency room (ER) utilization and overall survival. Methods: We identified a cohort of 3,453 PCa survivors from the 2000-2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) linked to the National Death Index Mortality Files through Dec 31, 2019. Deaths that occurred during the first two years of follow-up were excluded from analyses to minimize the likelihood of reverse causation. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6) was used to quantify psychological distress. Severe, moderate, and none/low mental distress have been validated for thresholds K6≥13, 13> K6 ≥5, and 5> K6 ≥0. Its association with self-reported ER utilization during the 12 months preceding the survey and all-cause mortality was estimated using weighted multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression, respectively. Models were adjusted for age, sex, race, educational attainment, comorbidities, region, year of survey, smoking status, health insurance, functional limitations, and time since cancer diagnosis. Results: Among the 3,453 PCa survivors (mean [SD] age 68.5 [7.2] years; 2479 (77.9%] non-Hispanic White, 655 (14.1%) non-Hispanic Black; median time since cancer diagnosis:5 years), 435 (11.3%) and 96 (2.4%) reported moderate and severe psychological distress respectively. PCa survivors with psychological distress tend to be younger, less educated, single, and with multiple comorbid conditions, and functional limitations. 812(22.8%) of PCa survivors visited the ER during 12 months preceding the survey. During a median follow-up of 81 months, 937(25.5%) of survivors died of all causes. After adjusting for covariates, PCa survivors with severe psychological distress were at a higher risk of ER utilization and all-cause mortality than those with moderate or no distress. Conclusions: Psychological distress was associated with increased risk of ER utilization and all-cause mortality among PCa survivors. Greater efforts are needed to understand, recognize, and alleviate such distress, as well as to enhance social and mental/physical health support in this rapidly growing community of vulnerable cancer survivors.

** p<0.001.