Prevalence and correlates of fatigue in long-term survivors of childhood leukemia.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of fatigue, identify the factors associated with fatigue, and to explore the relationship between fatigue and quality of life (QOL) in long-term survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).


METHODS
One hundred sixty-one ALL survivors diagnosed at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA) before age 18 years and between January 1, 1975 and December 31, 1995, participated in a structured telephone interview. Participants were aged 18 to 41 years and off treatment for an average of 14 years. Four measures of fatigue, including the Revised-Piper Fatigue Scale, were used to assess fatigue; depression was assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Multivariate logistic regression models were developed to identify factors associated with fatigue and depression.


RESULTS
Prevalence of fatigue (30%) fell within the general population normal limits. Fatigue and depression were highly correlated (Pearson r = 0.75). Fatigue was associated with marriage (OR = 0.11; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.50), having children (OR = 5.80; 95% CI, 1.30 to 25.82), sleep disturbances (OR = 6.15; 95% CI, 2.33 to 16.22), pain (OR = 5.56; 95% CI, 2.13 to 14.48), obesity (OR = 3.80; 95% CI, 1.41 to 10.26), cognitive impairment (OR = 2.56; 95% CI, 1.02 to 6.38), and exercise-induced symptoms (OR = 2.98; 95% CI, 1.11 to 8.02). Four factors associated with fatigue were also associated with depression: sleep disturbances, pain, obesity, and cognitive impairment. Fatigue was inversely related to QOL.


CONCLUSIONS
Some survivors of childhood ALL experience fatigue many years after treatment. Fatigued survivors represent a high-risk subgroup as they report more depression and poorer QOL than non-fatigued survivors and their peers.
Meeske
Kathleen A
KA
Department of Preventive Medicine and USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA. kmeeske@chla.usc.edu
Siegel
Stuart E
SE
Globe
Denise R
DR
Mack
Wendy J
WJ
Bernstein
Leslie
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D015141:Los Angeles / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications*; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D017741:Survivors