Anemia and quality of life including anemia-related symptoms in patients with solid tumors in clinical practice.
The aim of this study was to explore in a clinical setting the association between hemoglobin (Hb) level and quality of life (QoL) including anemia-related symptoms in patients with cancer disease. The study was performed in the outpatient units at the Oncology Clinic, Karolinska University Hospital, during spring 2004. One hundred-sixty patients responded to the questionnaires and Hb levels were available in 133 of their medical files. Anemia was not a common problem as only 12 out of 133 patients had an Hb level below 110 g/L. The Hb level was not related to general QoL but to FACT-An Trial Outcome Index (rs = 0.186, p = 0.036), measuring anemia-related symptoms as well as functional and physical well-being. However, two patients with Hb < 110 g/L had minor anemia-related symptoms (FACT AnS > or = 40), while 22 patients with Hb > or = 110 g/L had more pronounced symptoms (FACT AnS < 40). There was no difference in anemia-related symptoms between patients with and without ongoing cancer treatment, but patients with ongoing cancer treatment had decreased physical (p = 0.025) and functional (p = 0.011) well-being as compared to those without ongoing treatment. Patients with lung cancer on cancer treatment had lower FACT-An Trial Outcome Index than patients with breast cancer on treatment (mean values 71.8 and 99.1 for patients with lung and breast cancer, respectively, p = 0.009), and also a tendency to lower Hb levels (mean values 119 and 127 for patients with lung and breast cancer, respectively, p = 0.052). Physical and functional aspects might be more important to consider than increasing the Hb level to reduce the fatigue.
Karolinska Pharmacy, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden. eva.bremberg@pfizer.com
E Rämme
ER
Bremberg
Y
Y
Brandberg
C
C
Hising
S
S
Friesland
S
S
Eksborg
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D006454:Hemoglobins