title: Disease burden and pain in obese cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
abstract: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) and obesity are prevalent in cancer survivors and decrease quality of life; however, the impact of the co-occurrence of these conditions has garnered little attention. This study investigated differences between obese and non-obese cancer survivors with CIPN and predictors of symptom burden and pain.
  
  
  
  Patients with CIPN were administered the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory and a modified version of pain descriptors from the McGill Pain Inventory. Independent t tests assessed group differences between obese and non-obese survivors, and linear regression analyses explored predictors of patient outcomes.
  
  
  
  Results indicated a significant difference in symptom severity scores for obese (M = 32.89, SD = 25.53) versus non-obese (M = 19.35, SD = 16.08) patients (t(37.86) = -2.49, p = .02). Significant differences were also found for a total number of pain descriptors endorsed by obese (M = 4.21, SD = 3.45) versus non-obese (M = 2.42, SD = 2.69) participants (t(74) = -2.53, p = .01). Obesity was a significant predictor of symptom severity and total pain descriptors endorsed. Other significant predictors included age and months since treatment.
  
  
  
  Cancer survivors with CIPN and co-occurring obesity may be more at risk for decreased quality of life through increased symptom severity and pain compared to non-obese survivors. This paper identified risk factors, including obesity, age, and months since treatment, that can be clinically identified for monitoring distress in CIPN patients. Future research should focus on the longitudinal relationship between obesity and CIPN, and robust interventions to address the multifaceted issues faced by cancer survivors.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12801 E 17th Ave, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA. Emily.Cox-Martin@ucdenver.edu.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2011-3905
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cox-Martin
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1155 Pressler Street, Unit 1330, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.|Cedar Creek Associates, LLC, 631 Mill St., Ste. 101, San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Trahan
authors.affiliation: Adult and Child Consortium for Health Outcomes Research and Delivery Science, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 13199 E. Montview Blvd, Suite 358, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.affiliation: Department of Pain Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Holcombe Boulevard, Unit 409, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Patrick M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Dougherty
authors.affiliation: McGovern Medical School, University of Texas, 1885 El Paseo St, # 35303, Houston, TX, 77054, USA.
authors.forename: Emily A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Department of Pain Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1400 Holcombe Boulevard, Unit 409, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Diane M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Novy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017741:Survivors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: Cancer; Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy; Obesity; Pain; Quality of life