title: Age differences in fatigue, decrements in energy, and sleep disturbance in oncology patients receiving chemotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The number of older adults with cancer is increasing. Given the limited amount of research and the inconsistent findings regarding age differences in common physical symptoms associated with cancer and its treatments, the purposes of this study, in a sample of oncology outpatients receiving chemotherapy (CTX), were to evaluate for age differences in demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as in occurrence rates of and severity ratings for fatigue, decrements in energy, and sleep disturbance. In addition, using regression analysis techniques, within and across age groups, demographic and clinical characteristics associated with the severity of each symptom were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients (n = 1343) were dichotomized into younger (<65 years) and older (≥65 years) age groups. Patients completed self-report questionnaires prior to their next dose of CTX.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, our findings suggest that compared to younger patients, older adults experience a lower or similar level of fatigue, decrements in energy, and sleep disturbance. However, it should be noted that both age groups experienced high occurrence rates and moderate to severe levels of all three symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians need to assess all oncology patients receiving CTX for these three symptoms. Future research needs to determine the biopsychosocial reasons that underlie these age-related differences in fatigue, decrements in energy, and sleep disturbance.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Lindsey E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Bischel
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Kord M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kober
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Bruce A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Lee-May
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Jon D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY, United States.
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hammer
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY, United States.
authors.forename: Fay
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States. Electronic address: chris.miaskowski@ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Miaskowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D057566:Self Report; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: Age differences; Cancer; Chemotherapy; Diurnal variations; Elderly; Energy; Fatigue; Occurrence; Older adults; Severity; Sleep disturbance