Prevalence of Fatigue in Cancer Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Singer S, Kuhnt S, Zwerenz R, Eckert K, Hofmeister D, Dietz A, Giesinger J, Hauss J, Papsdorf K, Briest S, Brown A
Primary Institution: University of Leipzig
Hypothesis
What are the age- and sex-standardised prevalence rates of cancer-related fatigue in different groups of patients?
Conclusion
About a third of cancer patients are classified as fatigued at the beginning of treatment, with prevalence rates varying significantly between different patient groups.
Supporting Evidence
- 32% of patients were fatigued at hospital admission.
- 40% reported fatigue at discharge.
- 34% were fatigued six months after treatment.
Takeaway
Many cancer patients feel very tired, especially when they start treatment, and this tiredness can change over time.
Methodology
A prospective cohort study measuring fatigue at three time points using the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory.
Potential Biases
Patients who declined to participate may have been more fatigued, potentially skewing results.
Limitations
The study could not collect biological data or assess all referred patients, which may lead to underestimating fatigue prevalence.
Participant Demographics
The sample included 891 males (59.6%) and 603 females (40.4%), with a mean age of 60.2 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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