Symptom clusters in elderly patients with lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the number, type, and combination (cluster) of symptoms experienced by patients with lung cancer.


METHODS
A secondary analysis of data collected as part of a larger study.


METHODS
24 sites that included community hospitals, medical clinics, oncology clinics, and radiation-oncology clinics.


METHODS
220 patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer, ranging in age from 65-89 years (mean = 72 years, SD = 5.02), 38% with early-stage and 62% with late-stage lung cancer.


METHODS
Subject self-report.


RESULTS
Factor analysis found that the symptoms of fatigue, nausea, weakness, appetite loss, weight loss, altered taste, and vomiting form a cluster. Initial staging of cancer, the number of comorbid conditions, and being treated with chemotherapy emerged as significant predictors of the symptoms reported. Few differences were noted between men and women. Correlation was found among the numbers of symptoms reported, symptom severity, and limitations attributed to symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with lung cancer report multiple distressing symptoms related to symptom severity and limitations.


CONCLUSIONS
Assessment of multiple symptoms is recommended in patients with lung cancer.
Gift
Audrey G
AG
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA. Audrey.gift@ht.msu.edu
Jablonski
Anita
A
Stommel
Manfred
M
Given
C William
CW
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001066:Appetite / Q000502:physiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000451:nursing* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology; D009325:Nausea / Q000209:etiology; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods; D013651:Taste Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology