Disease and treatment characteristics do not predict symptom occurrence profiles in oncology outpatients receiving chemotherapy. Issue 15 (2nd May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Miaskowski, Christine; Cooper, Bruce A.; Melisko, Michelle; Chen, Lee‐May; Mastick, Judy; West, Claudia; Paul, Steven M.; Dunn, Laura B.; Schmidt, Brian L.; Hammer, Marilyn; Cartwright, Frances; Wright, Fay; Langford, Dale J.; Lee, Kathryn; Aouizerat, Bradley E.
• Is Part Of: Cancer. Volume 120:Issue 15(2014)
• Page Start: 2371
• Page End: 2378
• Publication Date: 2014-05-02
• Subjects: symptom profiles -- chemotherapy -- latent class analysis -- quality of life -- precision medicine -- symptom clusters; Cancer -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Cytopathology -- Periodicals; 616.99405
• DOI: 10.1002/cncr.28699
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0008-543X

Abstract

Abstract : BACKGROUND: A large amount of interindividual variability exists in the occurrence of symptoms in patients receiving chemotherapy (CTX). The purposes of the current study, which was performed in a sample of 582 oncology outpatients who were receiving CTX, were to identify subgroups of patients based on their distinct experiences with 25 commonly occurring symptoms and to identify demographic and clinical characteristics associated with subgroup membership. In addition, differences in quality of life outcomes were evaluated. METHODS: Oncology outpatients with breast, gastrointestinal, gynecological, or lung cancer completed the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale before their next cycle of CTX. Latent class analysis was used to identify subgroups of patients with distinct symptom experiences. RESULTS: Three distinct subgroups of patients were identified (ie, 36.1% in Low class; 50.0% in Moderate class, and 13.9% in All High class). Patients in the All High class were significantly younger and more likely to be female and nonwhite, and had lower levels of social support, lower socioeconomic status, poorer functional status, and a higher level of comorbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from the current study support the clinical observation that some oncology patients experience a differentially higher symptom burden during CTX. These high‐risk patients experience significant decrements in quality of life. Cancer 2014;120:2371–2378 . © 2014 American Cancer Society . Abstract : Patients who report higher symptom burden tend to be younger and nonwhite, and to have lower income and less social support. These high‐risk patients have a decreased quality of life.