Meagan S Whisenant1, Loretta A Williams, Tito Mendoza, Charles Cleeland, Tsun-Hsuan Chen, Michael J Fisch, Quiling Shi. 1. Author Affiliations: Jane and Robert Cizik School of Nursing, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (Dr Whisenant); and Departments of Symptom Research (Drs Whisenant, Williams, Mendoza, Cleeland, and Chen) and General Oncology (Dr Fisch), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston; Aim Specialty Health, Chicago, Illinois (Dr Fisch); and Chongqing Medical University, School of Public Health, Chongqing Municipality, China (Dr Shi).
Abstract
BACKGROUND: While women diagnosed with breast cancer have increased survival when compared with other cancers, survivorship may include residual symptom burden from treatment and continuing endocrine therapies. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify subgroups of breast cancer survivors experiencing similar symptom severity. METHODS: Participants were 498 women with breast cancer, not on active treatment. Symptom severity was self-reported using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory. Target symptoms were included in a latent profile analysis. Factors related to subgroup membership and differences in quality of life (QOL) and functioning were explored using logistic regression. RESULTS: Mean age was 60.11 (SD, 11.32) years, 86.1% were white, and 79.1% were receiving endocrine therapy. Target symptoms included fatigue (reported at ≥5 by 22.8% of women), sleep disturbance (24.8%), and trouble remembering (17.2%). Two subgroups were identified: low symptom severity (77.0% of women) and high (23.0%). Older women (odds ratio [OR], 0.971; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.952-0.989) and employed women (OR, 0.621; 95% CI, 0404-0.956) were less likely to be in the high subgroup; women with poorer performance status (OR, 1.653; 95% CI, 1.188-2.299) were more likely to be in the high subgroup. Women in the high subgroup reported lower QOL (P = .000) and greater interference with functioning (P = .000). CONCLUSIONS: Two subgroups of women with distinct symptom severity were identified. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Identification of women at risk for high symptoms during survivorship may allow clinicians to intensify their approach to symptom management, thereby mitigating poor outcomes and impairments in QOL.
BACKGROUND: While women diagnosed with breast cancer have increased survival when compared with other cancers, survivorship may include residual symptom burden from treatment and continuing endocrine therapies. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify subgroups of breast cancer survivors experiencing similar symptom severity. METHODS: Participants were 498 women with breast cancer, not on active treatment. Symptom severity was self-reported using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory. Target symptoms were included in a latent profile analysis. Factors related to subgroup membership and differences in quality of life (QOL) and functioning were explored using logistic regression. RESULTS: Mean age was 60.11 (SD, 11.32) years, 86.1% were white, and 79.1% were receiving endocrine therapy. Target symptoms included fatigue (reported at ≥5 by 22.8% of women), sleep disturbance (24.8%), and trouble remembering (17.2%). Two subgroups were identified: low symptom severity (77.0% of women) and high (23.0%). Older women (odds ratio [OR], 0.971; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.952-0.989) and employed women (OR, 0.621; 95% CI, 0404-0.956) were less likely to be in the high subgroup; women with poorer performance status (OR, 1.653; 95% CI, 1.188-2.299) were more likely to be in the high subgroup. Women in the high subgroup reported lower QOL (P = .000) and greater interference with functioning (P = .000). CONCLUSIONS: Two subgroups of women with distinct symptom severity were identified. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Identification of women at risk for high symptoms during survivorship may allow clinicians to intensify their approach to symptom management, thereby mitigating poor outcomes and impairments in QOL.
Authors: Sarah A Marshall; Christopher C Yang; Qing Ping; Mengnan Zhao; Nancy E Avis; Edward H Ip Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2015-10-17 Impact factor: 4.147
Authors: Andrea A Cohee; Timothy Stump; Rebecca N Adams; Shelley A Johns; Diane Von Ah; Kathleen Zoppi; Betsy Fife; Patrick O Monahan; David Cella; Victoria L Champion Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2016-02-16 Impact factor: 4.147