P Stone1, M Richards, R A'Hern, J Hardy. 1. Department of Pallitive Medicine, The Royal Marsden NHS Trust, Sutton, Surrey, UK. paddys@trinityhospice.org.uk
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Determining the prevalence of fatigue among cancer patients is complicated by the high prevalence of fatigue symptoms in the general population. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, severity and correlates of fatigue among both cancer patients and control subjects without cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 227 cancer patients and 98 control subjects were recruited to the study. They completed a number of questionnaires about fatigue, quality of life and psychological symptoms. The majority of subjects also underwent assessment of voluntary muscle function and nutritional status. Severe fatigue in the patients was defined as a score on the Fatigue Severity Scale in excess of the 95th percentile of the control group. RESULTS: The prevalence of severe fatigue was 15% among patients with recently diagnosed breast cancer, 16% among patients with recently diagnosed prostate cancer, 50% among patients with inoperable non small cell lung cancer and 78% among patients receiving specialist inpatient palliative care. In the patients a combination of dyspnoea, psychological distress, pain, and a measure of overall disease burden accounted for 56% of the variance in fatigue scores. CONCLUSIONS: Severe fatigue is a common problem among cancer patients, particularly those with advanced disease. Fatigue is significantly associated with the severity of psychological symptoms (anxiety and depression) and with the severity of pain and dyspnoea.
BACKGROUND: Determining the prevalence of fatigue among cancerpatients is complicated by the high prevalence of fatigue symptoms in the general population. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, severity and correlates of fatigue among both cancerpatients and control subjects without cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 227 cancerpatients and 98 control subjects were recruited to the study. They completed a number of questionnaires about fatigue, quality of life and psychological symptoms. The majority of subjects also underwent assessment of voluntary muscle function and nutritional status. Severe fatigue in the patients was defined as a score on the Fatigue Severity Scale in excess of the 95th percentile of the control group. RESULTS: The prevalence of severe fatigue was 15% among patients with recently diagnosed breast cancer, 16% among patients with recently diagnosed prostate cancer, 50% among patients with inoperable non small cell lung cancer and 78% among patients receiving specialist inpatient palliative care. In the patients a combination of dyspnoea, psychological distress, pain, and a measure of overall disease burden accounted for 56% of the variance in fatigue scores. CONCLUSIONS:Severe fatigue is a common problem among cancerpatients, particularly those with advanced disease. Fatigue is significantly associated with the severity of psychological symptoms (anxiety and depression) and with the severity of pain and dyspnoea.
Authors: In Cheol Hwang; Young Ho Yun; Young-Woo Kim; Keun Won Ryu; Young Ae Kim; Sung Kim; Jae-Moon Bae; Jae-Hyung Noh; Tae-Sung Sohn Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2014-01-09 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Shahpar Haghighat; Mohammad Esmail Akbari; Kourosh Holakouei; Abbas Rahimi; Ali Montazeri Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2003-05-03 Impact factor: 3.603