Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in routine practice: a European perspective.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) and its effect on patients' ability to carry out daily life activities following moderately to highly emetogenic, first-cycle chemotherapy in routine practice in cancer centers of four different European countries.


METHODS
This was a prospective, cross-sectional, nonrandomized, self-assessment study in 249 patients enrolled from cancer centers in Spain, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. The study population consisted of 78% women, with a mean age of 54. Breast, lung, and ovarian cancers made up 75% of all cancers in the study. Patients received a mean of 2.0 chemotherapy agents and 2.5 antiemetic drugs.


RESULTS
A total of 450 emetic episodes experienced by 243 patients was recorded over 5 days following chemotherapy, with an average of 1.8 episodes per patient (range: 0-28). A higher percentage of patients (38%) suffered from delayed compared to acute emesis (13%). Between 42% and 52% of all patients suffered from nausea (visual analogue scale > or = 5 mm) on any one day, peaking at day 3. Using the Functional Living Index for Emesis (FLIE) questionnaire, 75% of patients with nausea and 50% with vomiting reported a negative impact of these conditions on performance of daily living.


CONCLUSIONS
CINV remains a significant problem in routine practice, particularly in the delayed phase posttreatment. Overall, CINV had a negative impact on patients' daily life.
Zentrum für Tumordiagnostik und Prävention, Rorschacher Strasse 150, 9006 St. Gallen, Switzerland. aglaus@sg.zetup.ch
Agnes
A
Glaus
Cornelia
C
Knipping
Rudolf
R
Morant
Christel
C
Böhme
Burkhard
B
Lebert
Frank
F
Beldermann
Bernhard
B
Glawogger
Paz Fernandez
PF
Ortega
André
A
Hüsler
Robert
R
Deuson
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications