Fatigue in advanced cancer: a prospective study.
Fatigue is a common advanced cancer symptom. Clinical features are not well known. The authors surveyed consecutive patients admitted to a palliative medicine program to identify clinical correlates of fatigue. Data collected included age, sex, performance status, primary site, prior chemotherapy/radiation therapy, and blood transfusions. Visual analogue scales assessed fatigue, quality of life, and ability to perform daily activities. Weight change was estimated. Laboratory results including lactate dehydrogenase and hemoglobin were recorded. Fatigue severity was associated with brain metastases, poor performance status, poor quality of life, and reduced ability to perform activities. Prior radiation therapy was associated with less severe fatigue. Age, sex, and hemoglobin level were not associated with fatigue. Fatigue was universal on referral. Brain metastases and poor quality of life independently predicted severity. Hemoglobin level did not predict fatigue. Further studies are necessary to define the clinical features and relationships of fatigue.
Hauser
Katherine
K
Harry R. Horvitz Center for Palliative Medicine, Department of Solid Tumor Oncology, Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
Walsh
Declan
D
Rybicki
Lisa A
LA
Davis
Mellar P
MP
Seyidova-Khoshknabi
Dilara
D
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D009820:Ohio / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires