title: Predictors of cognitive decline in people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of demographic factors, disease/treatment-related factors, and psychological factors on cognitive function.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted. Participants were recruited from the oncology inpatient units of two hospitals. A convenience sample of 175 patients with cancer who underwent chemotherapy were recruited. The Everyday Cognition Scale (ECog), the Korean version of the Mini Mental State Examination (K-MMSE), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Fatigue (FACT-F) scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and a questionnaire to collect information about demographic, disease, and treatment information were completed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More participants showed a mild decline in cognitive function and self-reported cognitive decline (39.4%) than had objectively confirmed decline (20%). Notably, 53.7-62.9% of the participants showed memory loss and a decline in divided attention. Demographic factors (age, sex), disease/treatment-related factors (chemotherapy cycles, fatigue), and psychological factors (depression) were predictors of cognitive decline in 49.6% of participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Old age and cumulative chemotherapy cycles were the main influential factors for objectively confirmed cognitive decline, and fatigue was the most common predictor of self-reported cognitive decline. Depression was one of the predictors of perceived cognitive decline, but it was not significant for objectively measured cognitive function. Thus, treatment-related factors such as fatigue had a greater impact on cognitive decline than psychological factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Sahmyook University, 815 Kongnung-dong, Hwarang-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01795, South Korea. Electronic address: ohpj@syu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Pok-Ja
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Oh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D056910:Republic of Korea; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: Chemotherapy; Depression; Fatigue; Mild cognitive impairment