Multidimensional fatigue in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy: incidence, severity, and risk factors

Abstract

Purpose To explore the incidence, severity, and risk factors of multidimensional fatigue in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). Methods This prospective study included 79 patients with NPC in Guangzhou (China) from June 2015 to July 2018. Data were collected before and after CCRT, including demographic and clinical characteristics, nutritional parameters, and fatigue scores, based on completion of the Multiple Dimensional Inventory-20 Questionnaire, with five subscales: General Fatigue, Mental Fatigue, Physical Fatigue, Reduced Activity, and Reduced Motivation. Results Increased general fatigue was found to be associated with lower lymphocyte count and body mass index <23 kg/m 2 . Increased physical fatigue was related to age > 42 years. Higher scores for reduced activity were associated with age > 42 years, female sex, and lower serum sodium. Increased mental fatigue was related with lower lymphocyte count and unemployment; and increased total fatigue was associated with lower lymphocyte count, age > 42 years, and 3-6 courses of treatment. Furthermore, 3-6 courses of treatment was an independent predictor of severe general fatigue, while age >42 years was an independent predictor of severe physical fatigue. Importantly, cancer stage IVB and 3-6 courses of treatment could predict severe total fatigue. Conclusions Our data demonstrate that fatigue is increased in all dimensions in NPC patients following CCRT, and that the predictors differ for each fatigue dimension. These results could guide the development of targeted interventions that may reduce the impact of cancer-related fatigue in patients with NPC.

Could nutrition status predict fatigue one week before in patients with nasopharynx cancer undergoing radiotherapy?

“…The therapeutic regimen would be altered for those who showed severe fatigue, according to the studies of Pan 39 and Chen. 4 There were interesting findings on lifestyles in this study. Patients with a drinking history reported less fatigue, aside from sensory fatigue, as documented in previous studies.…”

Fatigue and quality of life among thyroid cancer survivors without persistent or recurrent disease

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Risk factors associated with patient‐reported fatigue among long‐term oropharyngeal carcinoma survivors

“…Our study also did not find associations with T‐classification, N‐classification, and multimodality treatment with fatigue. Chen et al 59 ( n = 79) reported that tumor stage IVB was associated with severe total fatigue during concurrent chemoradiotherapy among patients nasopharyngeal cancer. However, Fossa et al 6 ( n = 117) did not find association between tumor stage and fatigue pre‐RT, during RT, and up to 2 months post‐RT in HNC patients.…”